Vote Counting Machine (VCM) at polling precint 0926 of the San Jose Elementary School where Makati Mayor Abby Binay would vote has been malfunctioning since 7:20 a.m. NESTOR CORRALES / INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The vote counting machine (VCM) at polling precinct 0926 at the San Jose Elementary School in Makati City, where Makati Mayor Abby Binay voted, had malfunctioned for at least three hours, said Vivian Estil, board of election inspector chairman.
The VCM started malfunctioning at 7:20 a.m. Monday and lasted for almost three hours.
The voting, however, continued despite the glitch. Voters were still allowed to cast their votes but their ballots were not yet fed to the VCM until a new one arrived.
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A new VCM arrived around 10:00 a.m. after technicians from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) arrived to replace the VCM.
Earlier, Abby’s father, former vice president Jejomar Binay also encountered a glitching VCM in his polling precinct at the San Antonio National High School.
After eight attempts, his ballot was not read by the VCM. He left the precinct and went back after to try but still to no avail.
The Binay patriarch then proceeded to the Comelec headquarters at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and went back to his polling precinct to vote after being explained what happened.
He was able to vote at past 11 a.m. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde/Julie Espinosa)