Armed men torch VCM, election paraphernalia in Isabela

JONES, ISABELA, Philippines –Unidentified armed men snatched and burned a vote counting machine (VCM) and election paraphernalia that were being transferred to the municipal canvassing center at the town hall here on Tuesday morning, police said.

Police Capt. Frances Littaua, Isabela police spokesperson, said members of the board of election inspectors (BEI) from Santa Isabel village were loading the VCM and election paraphernalia onto a dump truck when the armed men approached them at about 6:20 a.m.

BEI Head Arlyn Borromeo-Santos, who reported the incident to authorities, said the VCM had earlier malfunctioned and had 200 unread ballots.

Santos said the machine and election paraphernalia were from polling Precinct Nos. 0037A, 0037B, 0038A, 0038B and 0038P1 of Dicamay I village and polling Precinct Nos. 0039A, 0039B, 0039C, 0040 A 0040B and 0040P1 of Dicamay II, all in Jones town.

The armed men allegedly ordered the BEI members to unload the VCM and other election items, which the suspects  later burned.

Police are already investigating the incident.   (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)