PNP: Only 2.53% voting precincts open at 6:30 a.m.

Long lines form outside the gates of the Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Quezon City early on Monday, May 13, 2019, as voters troop to election precincts for the midterm elections. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / NIñO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines – As of 6:30 a.m., only 2.53 percent of the 36,834 voting precincts nationwide were open and started accepting votes, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde said Monday.

The voting period was set to start at 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.

READ: Comelec confident 80-90% of poll precincts to open on time for elections

“Based kanina, around 6:30 a.m. Mayroon pa lang 2.53 percent na nag-start ng botohan as of around 6:30 a.m.,” Albayalde said at a press conference in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The PNP chief did not give reasons as to the delay of the opening of the polling precincts.

However, he said that based on the PNP’s monitoring, polling precincts were already preparing.

The PNP was still monitoring the situation at voting precincts, Albayalde added.

“By this time, more or less we will see kung 100 percent na yung voting centers natin,” he said.

He noted that 3,125 PNP personnel were trained as members of the electoral board (EB) to assist in the elections should there be a shortage of election officers. (Editor: Cenon B. Bibe Jr.)