ALL SET. Commission on Elections Commissioner Nelson Celis (left) and chair George Garcia participate in the final testing and sealing of vote-counting machines at Amaya Elementary School in Tanza, Cavite on Sunday (Feb. 19, 2023). The special election on Feb. 25 will be for the representative of Cavite's 7th District, vacated by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. (Courtesy of the Office of Comelec Chairman)
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) of the 426 vote-counting machines (VCMs) to be used in the Feb. 25 special election for the representative of Cavite's 7th District was a success.
John Rex Laudiangco, Comelec spokesperson, said the machines functioned well during the FTS on Sunday.
“Based on the general report, all 426 worked well and counted correctly. No VCMs or SD (secure digital) cards failed. The only observed issue is the paper jam that is immediately remedied simply by correcting the position of the VCM over the ballot box so that the ballot exit slot matches the entry receptacle,” he said in a statement.
“At 11:15 am, FTS was reported to be over in most of the 75 voting centers, while others were just carrying out the corresponding administrative procedures,” Laudiangco added.
There will be 75 voting centers in 116 villages of Trece Martires City and the towns of Amadeo, Indang and Tanza for Saturday’s automated special election.
Former Trece Martires City mayor Melencio de Sagun Jr., Cavite 7th District Board Member Crispin Diego Remulla, Jose Angelito Aguinaldo and Michael Angelo Santos are the candidates to replace Jesus Crispin Remulla, who was appointed Justice Secretary shortly after the May 2022 polls.
Crispin Diego Remulla is the son of the Justice chief.
After the FTS, the final process in the preparation, the VCMs were returned to their boxes and redeposited in the storage rooms of the schools that are part of the special poll.
Each storage room is closely guarded by staff of the Department of Education in collaboration with the Philippine National Police.
Nearly 1,300 members of 426 electoral boards participated and ensured that their kits were complete with the sealed VCM, main and backup SD cards and other paraphernalia, including thermal paper rolls, marking pens and documents and checklists. (PNA)
