NAMFREL: Midterm polls peaceful so far

Despite cases of defective vote counting machines (VCMs), the midterm elections have been generally peaceful so far, according to the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL).

"Mukhang maayos naman, pero may mga cases yata na sira 'yung makina, pero nangyayari naman talaga 'yun," NAMFREL chairman Gus Lagman said in an interview on GMA News' "Balitanghali."

This comes as several VCMs were found to be not operational on the morning of May 13, election day.

Among the areas reported to have issues with the VCMs are Davao del Sur; Jolo, Sulu; Kidapawan City; Malabon; Marawi City; San Juan City; San Mateo, Rizal; and Palawan.

"Otherwise, wala namang parang malaking problemang nangyayari," Lagman said.

In the same interview, Lagman said Namfrel will continue to monitor the midterm polls, even as it turned down accreditation to be the citizens' arm of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the midterms.

According to Lagman, the group declined the accreditation because the Comelec did not heed all of ts requests, including for complete election data, random manual audits, and election monitoring.

Lagman said that the Comelec only agreed to grant them access to 27 copies of the election results, and allowed them to conduct random manual audits to only 1 to 2% of the precincts.

"Kung 'yun lang ang ibibigay niyo samin, wag niyo na kami i-accredit," he said. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News