Map of Eastern Visayas
TACLOBAN CITY — At least 24 vote counting machines (VCMs) in Eastern Visayas were brought to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office for repairs after they malfunctioned on Monday, May 9.
The number, however, could increase as the poll body received information about more defective VCMs in the region, said Jenette Fariola Ruedas, Comelec-Eastern Visayas information officer.
“These VCMs were immediately repaired,” she said.
The 24 VCMs brought at the Comelec regional office were all from Leyte province: six were from Tacloban City; four from Ormoc City; three from Jaro; two each from Carigara and Dagami; and one each from Palo, Sta. Fe, Kananga, Burauen, Bato, Barugo, and Albuera.
Among the VCMs that malfunctioned were from the polling centers where Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and his opponent, Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin, voted.
Romualdez, who was seeking a second term, was a registered voter of the Panalaron Central School while Yaokasin was a voter of Kapangian Central School. Both officials waited for more than 30 minutes before they were able to cast their votes.
Lawyer Noli Pipo, regional Comelec director, said no major untoward incidents were reported during election day.
“We can say that the conduct of elections in Eastern Visayas was generally peaceful and orderly. And we can say that the voters’ turnout could be between 82 to 85 percent,” he said.
The region has more than 3.16 million registered voters.
Pipo credited the active role played by the Philippine National Police and the Army personnel to ensure a peaceful and orderly election in the region.
About 10,000 policemen and 6,000 soldiers were activated for poll duties across the region.
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