Comelec yet to decide whether Eleksyon 2022 VCMs will still be used in next polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to decide whether or not the country would use the vote counting machines used in Eleksyon 2022 in the midterm elections in 2025, its spokesman Rex Laudiangco said on Monday.

“Wala pa pong final decision as to whether or not we will still be using these VCMs... Wala pa po siya,” Laudiangco said at the press briefing.

(There is no final decision whether or not we will still be using these VCMs... There is no decision yet.)

“Para sagutin ko po yan, balikan ko na lang po yung original proposal namin for this elections. Ang original proposal po namin ay bagong makina so we will be consistent na para sa susunod na elections,” he added.

(But to answer that, I'll just go back to our original proposal for this year’s elections, our original proposal is a new machine so we will be consistent for the next elections.)

“Kasi po ngayon pa lang eh hinihiling na namin kaya lang hindi po talaga kakayanin ng budget ng bansa at nauunawaan po naming dahil pandemya,” Laudiangco said.

(We asked for it this year. However, based on the country's budget we can't really afford it and we understand it because of the pandemic.)

Laudiangco said that if the Comelec asked for new VCMs for Eleksyon 2022, it would likely for new VCMs in 2025.

He, however, said that the Comelec still had no decision on the matter.

“For sure, mas hihilingin namin for 2025 na bagong makina. As to whether or not kung gagamitin pa or hindi, wala pa pong final decision dito,” Laudiangco said.

(For sure we will ask for a new machines in 2025, as to whether or not it will be used or not. There is no final decision here yet.)

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia earlier said the Comelec would not allow the VCM issues in 2022 be repeated in the next elections.

He said among the biggest problems encountered in Eleksyon 2022 were the long lines of voters in polling precincts and the number of malfunctioning vote counting machines (VCMs).

More than 1,800 VCMs were reportedly malfunctioned on May 9. -NB, GMA News