SOME 800 units of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines were found to be defective, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

According to Comelec chairman Juan Andres Bautista, the ongoing diagnostics revealed the number of faulty machines.

"I heard that about 8 to 10 percent have defects. Of the more than 80,000 machines, 10 percent have already been diagnosed. That is about 8,000 units,” he said.

Among the defects found is the non-functioning of machine parts that need replacements.

“All of these still have to be validated, though,” Bautista added.

With this, the poll body chief noted that the diagnostics project of the 81,896 units of PCOS machines is expected to be completed next month.

The Comelec–Information Technology Department and the Department of Science and Technology are conducting diagnostics of the machines to determine if they can still be used in the 2019 polls.

The budget for the diagnostics project is P10.6 million, which was approved by commission en banc.

Bautista added that after the PCOS units are completely diagnosed, they will be presenting it to the Comelec Advisory Council (CAC).

The machines were used in the 2010 and 2013 polls. (FP/SunStar Philippines)