MABALACAT CITY -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has reported that contingency measures were in place to address the seven vote counting machines (VCMs) that malfunctioned during Election Day Monday, May 13.
City Election Officer Imelda Panis said they received complaints from some poll precincts all over Mabalacat, but stressed that contingency measures were implemented to address the problems.
"May contingency naman kami dito, so yon ang ginagawa ng isang Comelec ang aming service para magpunta doon sa schools na may nasirang VCMs (We have contingency measures. The Comelec sent technicians to precincts with malfunctioned VCMs)," Panis said.
Aside from the VCM malfunction, the city election officer also reported one corrupted VCM SD card in Barangay Tabun.
The Comelec expected a big number of voters in the morning of Election Day, Panis said.
She said the registered voters per clustered precinct is bigger this 2019 elections.
"It should not exceed 1,000 voters per clustered precinct," Panis said. "Per clustered precinct may isang VCM."
The city election office had 13 contingency VCMs on standby in case of malfunctions.
"Ang medyo worry lang namin talaga na wala naman ma-corrupt na SD card. Once nasira po kasi yung SD card, nire-reconfigure pa po kasi iyan from the main office. We have to observe the protocol. Mayroon pong tinatawagan ang aming DESO tech sa main office, yung NTSC, National Technical Support Command," Panis said.
She said the election is generally peaceful in this city and voting centers and polling precincts opened on time at 6 a.m.
She said there were no election-related violent incidents reported by the Philippine National Police.