Comelec’s 2022 polls performance an 8.5 / 10, much room for improvement — Garcia

(INQUIRER file photo/ARNOLD ALMACEN)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) performance in the May 2022 elections  “is not perfect” as it faced several challenges, such as faulty vote-counting machines.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia made the admission on Thursday when asked on ANC’s Headstart to rate the poll body’s performance in the recent elections.

“It’s 8.5. It’s not perfect. In 8.5, there is still much room for improvement on the part of the Commission on Elections,” he replied.

Garcia emphasized the improvements the Comelec has done to improve the May 9 national and local elections, to include enhancing of equipment.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia (INQUIRER FILES)

“As far as the Comelec is concerned, we actually improved our equipment; we trained our [information technology] personnel and at the same time we trained the teachers; and the [Department of Science and Technology] came into the picture, certified these teachers that they are capable of operating the machines; we improved our technicians; and definitely, we learned from the lesson of the past,” said Garcia.

Despite this, he likewise noted the hurdles that the commission faced.

“This time, the [vote-counting] machines malfunctioned, several of them. So, this should not and must not happen again in the future,” said Garcia.

Some 1,800 vote-counting machines had malfunctioned on election day, the Comelec earlier announced.

Aside from faulty machines, other issues such as alleged vote buying hounded the recently-concluded polls.

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