PILI, Camarines Sur — Twenty of the total 1,753 vote counting machines (VCMs) in this province have malfunctioned since the opening of polling precincts until Monday afternoon, a provincial Commission on Elections official said.
Camarines Sur Election Supervisor Alberto Cañares III told Inquirer the malfunctioning VCMs in the towns of Canaman, Siruma, Pasacao, Bula, Sagñay, Ocampo, Bombon, Magarao, Tigaon, Tinambac, Nabua, Del Gallego, Iriga City, and Naga City have been replaced with contingent machines for the ease of elections.
“Three of the VCMs emitted smokes, some shut down, and some rejected ballots,” Cañares noted.
He also said the 183 contingency VCMs were provided to Camarines Sur province’s 36 towns and two cities.
“Each municipality and city is allocated a certain number of VCMs, so if one malfunctions, they replace it,” he told the press.
However, he said that precincts in the towns of Del Gallego and Baao need SD cards that will come from Legazpi City, where the Comelec regional office is located.
Cañares also said Comelec Camarines Sur has received information on vote buying in the province, but no formal complaints have been filed.
“We can’t act on information,” he said.
The provincial board of canvassers has convened at 3 p.m. to check the machines, peripherals, and the internet connectivity prior to the consolidation of votes from the 36 towns and two cities. /kga