UNA: Vote-counting machine errors, Roxas receipts mar elections

Vice President Jejomar Binay and former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. INQUIRER PHOTOS

THE United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Monday said malfunctioning vote counting machines (VCM), intimidation of supporters for Vice President Jejomar Binay, and receipts allegedly showing the name of Mar Roxas tainted Monday’s election.

During a press conference at their headquarters at New Horizon Hotel in Mandaluyong, UNA spokesperson Mon Ilagan said “VCMs nationwide are malfunctioning.”

He said the party has recorded 28 defective VCMs in Makati alone, the bailiwick of Binay, “which resulted in confusion that discouraged voters to cast their vote.”

The following areas also have malfunctioning VCMs – South Cotabato; Valenzuela; Quiapo, Manila; Oriental and Occidental, Mindoro; Moonwalk, Paranaque; Virac, Catanduanes, Talang, Masbate; General Santos City; Surigao del Sur; Sangandaan; Biliran; Pangasinan; Zamboanga Sibugay; Danao, Cebu; and Rizal.

In the provinces of Masbate, Catanduanes and Paranaque, Ilagan said some voters who either undervoted or who voted for Binay received receipts from the VCMs which bore the name of Roxas.

“Voters across the country, they voted for a particular candidate like VP Binay but received a receipt generated by the VCM indicating the administration candidate, Mr. Mar Roxas,” Ilagan said.

Ilagan said the party will continue to collate documents and evidence to determine if these irregularities “show a systematic or widespread preconceived plan to sabotage the electoral process and mute the electoral will.”

Ilagan said some voters whose names appear in the computerized voters’ list were denied their right to suffrage because their names did not appear in the certified voters’ list.

Binay’s information officer Joey Salgado said the reports were relayed to the party by the local candidates, the lawyers for Binay, as well as the party’s 100,000 poll watchers on the ground.

“Despite these incidents, we’re very confident the vice president would win this election,” Salgado said.

The UNA also reported the following election related concerns as of 4 p.m.

– Intimidation of voters for Binay in Isabela City, Basilan

– No voter receipts printed in various locations

– No entry in voting precincts in Don Victoriano, Misamis Occidental for voters with no Mar Roxas stamp

– Vote buying for Roxas in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar

– Voters not registered in precincts allowed to vote in Malolos, Bulacan

– UNA poll watchers not allowed to enter voting precincts in several locations

Ilagan also reported that voters in Isabela City, Basilan who wanted to vote for Binay were intimidated and stopped from voting.

In Basilan, the ballot of Sitti Sayana Tiplani was allegedly crumpled and she was slapped in the face supposedly by an election officer while inside the voting precinct at 7:15 a.m., Ilagan said. She has since filed a report with the police.

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