Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.
MANILA -- Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Monday slammed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) amid several reports of defective vote counting machines (VCMs) that caused some delay in the voting process nationwide.
Pimentel particularly cited that 16 out of 50 barangays in Dapitan City have faulty machines and SD cards.
The barangays that encountered VCM glitches were Larayan, Napo, Potol, Talisay, Potungan, Taguilon, Masidlakon, Sigayan, San Vicente, San Pedro, Tag-ulo, Oro, Dawo, Antipolo, Sto. Niño, and Aliguay, he noted.
“Too many reports of malfunctioning VCMs nationwide. Hence the question to ask now is, why did the Comelec report that all VCMs passed the diagnostic tests?” Pimentel said.
Some 85,000 VCMs in the same number of clustered precincts all over the country were utilized in the May 13 polls.
The Comelec earlier said the VCMs had undergone final testing and sealing.
Aside from the 85,000 VCMs, the Comelec has readied about 7,000 VCMs as contingency. (PNA)
