By Myris Lee
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia said Friday that they are still testing and sealing the vote-counting machines (VCMs) to be used for the local and national elections on Monday.
The testing and sealing of VCMs which began on May 2 is set to be completed on Saturday, May 7. So far, 355 VCMs have been found to be showing technical problems.
“Subalit ito po ay napakaliit na porsyento kumpara doon sa bilang ng maayos na maayos na mga vote-counting machines”,” Garcia said in a Laging Handa briefing interview.
“At lahat po ng mga iyan ay dinala na po sa ating mga repair hubs, kasalukuyan na pong ginagawa. Madami na rin pong nagawa doon, mga almost 200 na. So, hopefully po hanggang bukas magsusubok tayo, at hindi ganoon pa kadami ang mga makina na nagkaproblema,” he added.
The official explained that technical difficulties cannot be fully avoided, saying that the machines are already old and were used a number of times in the past elections.
“Tatandaan po natin, iyong mga makinang ito, medyo matatandang makina na rin po ito dahil ilang beses na po natin nagamit sa ilang election pero effective pa rin po at efficient iyong mga makinang ito,” he said. – ag
