Glitches mar Comelec testing of ACMs in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Bicol reported that it encountered glitches during the final testing and sealing (FTS) of automated counting machines (ACMs) in the region as preparations for the elections on May 12 approach its last stages.

The glitches were seen during routine pre-election checks, where the machines experienced technical malfunctions, particularly issues with USB drives, lawyer Maria Juana Valeza, Comelec Bicol director, told the Inquirer in a private message on Tuesday.

“Out of the 5,877 polling precincts, only 16 failed to proceed with the final testing and sealing due to defective USB drives. We need to replace them and (we) expect to have the replacements on Tuesday. We will reschedule the FTS for May 7 (Wednesday),” Valeza said.

She explained that the primary issue with the ACMs was that the configured precincts did not match the internal data.

According to Comelec data, Bicol has 4,053,977 registered voters who will participate in the national and local elections.

Affected areas

When asked about the specific provinces and towns affected by the glitch, Valeza mentioned that the problem was encountered in two schools in the municipality of Daraga in Albay province.

She also listed Garchitorena, Goa, Milaor, Ocampo, Pasacao, Pili, and Sipocot in Camarines Sur that had glitches.

In Masbate, the towns of Mobo and Esperanza also experienced glitches, she added.

One school in Casiguran town, Sorsogon and another in Labo, Camarines Norte, were also affected, she said.

READ: Iloilo City Comelec holds testing, sealing of ACMs for mall voting

“To sum it up, the Final Testing and Sealing was largely successful because most of the machines tested showed normal functionality,” she stressed.

Valeza also assured voters that the Comelec is “fully prepared and 100 percent ready to ensure the integrity of the elections on May 12. INQ