Comelec seals vote-counting machines on Pag-asa Island

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has conducted final testing and sealing of vote-counting machines (VCMs) and Voters’ Registration and Verification System (VRVS) at Pag-asa Island’s Barangay Pag-asa in the West Philippine Sea ahead of Monday’s polls.

Officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) joined personnel of the Comelec in their visit to the village on Thursday, the PNP said in a press statement Friday.

Comelec Commissioners Al Parreño, Antonio Kho and Luie Tito Guia personally witnessed the final testing and sealing procedures for the election equipment, the PNP said.

Police Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, Deputy Chief for Operations and commander of the National Security Task Force of the PNP for the elections, also inspected the security preparations of the local police in the village.

Barangay Pag-asa is the only barangay in Kalayaan, a fifth-class municipality in the province of Palawan that is home to more than 200 residents.

On election day, village residents will elect a provincial governor, a vice governor, provincial board members, and their district representative to the House of Representatives, a town mayor, a vice-mayor, and members of the municipal council of Kalayaan, as well as senators and partylist groups.

Gamboa has assured that the PNP nationwide is all set for Monday’s polls.

“It’s green and go nationwide as far as police election security operations is concerned,” he said. /muf