Comelec: Failure of elections not an option

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday allayed fears that the May 9 national and local elections will not push through, adding that the elections will push through and that there will be no failure of elections.

In a press conference, Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo assured that the Comelec is on top of the situation and that they have already laid down contingency procedures for whatever scenario that may arise on election day.

“Sigurado po tayo magkakaroon po tayo ng eleksyon. We have laid down all the contingency procedures. Lahat po ng possible scenario, meron na po tayong contingency procedure kaya I can assure everybody na there will be an election this coming May 9, 2022. Wala po tayong failure of elections. Failure of elections is not an option sa Comelec,” he said.

Casquejo also explained that the reported defective vote counting machines have been replaced.

The reported defective machines are undergoing repairs.

He also pointed out that the number of VCMs found defective during the final testing and sealing conducted in the clustered precincts are lower this coming election compared to the elections in 2019.

“As compared to 2019 masyadong mababa ito. In 2019, during the first day of FTS, 500 agad ‘yung nakitang defective VCMs. ‘Yung nakita ngayon, .6% lang ng total clustered precincts na natapos na sa FTS,” the poll official said.

Reports said some 355 VCMs were found defective after at least 70,924 clustered precincts or 67% of 106,000 clustered precincts have conducted FTS.

Cosquejo also reported that the usual defect of the malfunctioning VCMs was in the scanner but assured that they can be easily repaired and would not pose any problem.

He said that there are also 1,100 contingency VCMs on stand-by.

The poll official further pointed out that the VCM in a clustered precinct that has already closed can also be transferred to another polling precinct.

“Ang VCM pag tapos na sa isang presinto, pwede namang hiramin kasi ‘yung ating SD cards, nandun ang ating mga boto. What is important is the SD card and the official ballot. Pwedeng gumamit ng ibang VCM pag nasira yung nasa precinct ninyo,” he said.

Commenting on his alleged silence on the issue, Casquejo stressed that he is not silent on the issue at all, adding that he has already read out his report.

He also disclosed recommending a daily reportage of updates, just like the daily COVID-19 updates during the height of the pandemic.

“Nandito na ako, nagsasalita na. that’s why I am recommend that everyday there will be a report, gaya nung nakikita nating COVID report…maglalabas daily before 12 pm at ipo-post sa COMELEC website,” he said.

Reports of a delay in the conduct of election scenario due to vote counting machines (VCMs) breakdown left and right four days before the national and local elections alarmed the UniTeam headquarters, more so with what they called as Casquejo’s deafening silence on an apparent emergency situation.

“We would like Commissioner Marlon Casquejo to answer circulating reports of a looming delay in the conduct of elections scenario,” said Atty. Vic Rodriguez, chief-of-staff and spokesperson of presidential frontrunner Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.

“Why is Cascuejo, as commissioner in charge of the election, conspicuously silent and not being forthright and forthcoming on what is really happening relative to its (Comelec) preparations. Why he is not reporting on the malfunctioning, nonworking and defective VCMs?” Rodriguez asked.

Rodriguez said Cascuejo should make a report in public on the capacity of Comelec’s regional hubs to trouble shoot or replace malfunctioning machines.

“Dapat sabihin niya kung kaya ng nyang tugunan ang pagkumpuni o pagpapalit ng mga magka-problema o depektibong VCMs. There is great likelihood of a delay in the conduct of the elections when the problems on VCMs are not timely addressed. And when that happens, it could result to a delayed proclamation or, worse, a no proclamation scenario that could plunge the country into anarchy and spell disaster for our people who are still reeling from the ill-effects of the pandemic,” he stressed.

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Lee Ann P. Ducusin