All VCMs, ballots for Eleksyon 2022 distributed nationwide —Comelec

All of the vote counting machines (VCMs) and official ballots that will be used for the May 9 polls have already been distributed all over the country, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.

In a press conference, Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino noted that aside from the VCMs and ballots, the dispatch of the ballot boxes, Broadband Global Area Network, and Consolidated Canvassing System (CSS) kits have been completed as of May 5. 

Commissioner Marlon Casquejo further said that 70,924 clustered precincts or 67% of the over 106,000 clustered precincts nationwide have conducted the final testing and sealing of VCMs so far.

Comelec is currently conducting the final testing and sealing of the VCMs, set from May 2 to May 7.

There were also 355 VCMs and 44 SD cards found defective and in need of replacement, he noted.

“As compared to 2019, masyadong mababa ito because in 2019, on the first day of the FTS, nagkaron tayo agad ng 500 defective VCMs. so maybe because of na-repair natin, na-refurbish natin medyo bumaba talaga,” Casquejo said, stressing that the number of defective ballots was just 0.6% of the total clustered precincts.

(As compared to 2019, this number is very low because in 2019, on the first day of the FTS, we immediately had 500 defective VCMs. Maybe because we already repaired or refurbished them that’s why the number of defective ballots went down.)

The VCMs found defective, mostly due to their scanner and printer roller, are being repaired in the Comelec warehouse in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

“I can assure the public na hindi po tayo magkaka problema sa ating vote counting machines. Although only we only have 1,100 contingency machines, but with the rate nangyayari dito, we only have 355 or0 0.6%, kakayanin ‘yung ating contingency machines,” Casquejo said.

(I can assure the public that we will not have any problems with our VCMs. Although we only have 1,100 contingency machines, we can handle that considering the current rate of 0.6% or 355 defective VCMs.)

Casquejo said the Comelec has established eight VCMs repair hubs nationwide: three are in Luzon located in Santa Rosa, Region 1, and the National Capital Region; two are in Visayas, located in Cebu and Tacloban; and three in Mindanao located in Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Zamboanga City.

“[These] VCM repair hubs will address all the issues pertaining to the defective vote counting machines,” he added.

Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s spokesman Vic Rodriguez had called on Casquejo to answer the issue on the supposed malfunctioning VCMs, citing reports of breakdowns.

Comelec encourages the public, poll watchers, and representatives of political parties to go to polling precincts nationwide to personally witness the testing of the VCMs. — BM, GMA News