Marcos camp to Casquejo: Answer issues on broken vote counting machines

The camp of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has called on Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Marlon Casquejo to answer the issue on the supposed malfunctioning vote counting machines for Eleksyon 2022.

Attorney Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’ spokesman, said there were reports about the “breakdown” of VCMs days before the Election Day. He pointed out that Casquejo has been silent on the issue.

“We would like Commissioner Marlon Casquejo to answer circulating reports of a looming delay in the conduct of elections scenario,” Rodriguez said in a statement issued Thursday.

“Why is Casquejo, as commissioner in charge of the election, conspicuously silent and not being forthright and forthcoming on what is really happening relative to its (Comelec) preparations. Why he is not reporting on the malfunctioning, nonworking and defective VCMs?“ Rodriguez added.

Rodriguez said the Comelec official should report before the public the capacity of regional offices to troubleshoot malfunctioning machines.

“Dapat sabihin niya kung kaya niyang tugunan ang pagkumpuni o pagpapalit ng mga magka-problema o depektibong VCMs,” Rodriguez said.

(He should tell to the public if he can address the problem on defective VCMs.)

He raised alarm that there would be delays in the conduct of the electoral process if the issue will not be addressed.

“There is great likelihood of a delay in the conduct of the elections when the problems on VCMs are not timely addressed. And when that happens, it could result to a delayed proclamation or, worse, a no proclamation scenario that could plunge the country into anarchy and spell disaster for our people who are still reeling from the ill-effects of the pandemic,” he said.

Report on final testing, sealing of ballots

At a news conference, Casquejo said he will recommend for the poll body to release a report on the final testing and sealing of ballots that will be posted on the Comelec website every 12 noon, so as to allay concerns about the broken VCMs.

He also noted that there were 355 VCMs or only 0.6% of the total clustered precincts that were found defective so far during the final testing and sealing of VCMs set from May 2 to May 7.

“Iba ‘yung natatanggap nung ibang tao kasi sinasabi nila na umabot na daw ng ganitong kadaming defect ang ating vote counting machines, well in fact it’s only 355. Ang liit lang talaga. Out of the 70,000 na nakapag-conduct, masyadong maliit ‘yun 355 defective VCMs,” he said.

“The people are saying that the number of defective VCMs has reached this number, but is really only 355. This is a small number out of the 70,000 precincts that have conducted the final testing and sealing of VCMs.)

Casquejo also claimed that there will be no failure in the upcoming May 9 polls.

“I can assure everybody that there will be an election in this coming May 9, 2022, wala po tayong failure of election. Failure of election is not an option sa Comelec,” he added.

(I can assure everybody that there will be no failure of election in the coming May 9, 2022. that is not an option in the Comelec.)

Earlier, Comelec commissioner George Garcia said the poll body has emergency measures for the malfunctioning VCMs.

Garcia has said roughly 100% of the VCMs have been delivered nationwide. — Anna Felicia Bajo and Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA News