BY GLENDA TAYONA and IME SORNITO
ILOILO City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will conduct today a simultaneous final testing and sealing of voter counting machines (VCMs) to be used for Monday’s midterm elections here and in Iloilo province.
The testing begins at 9 a.m., according to Mavil Majarucon-Sia, city election officer.
“This is a very important activity,” she stressed.
All poll watchers and candidates are encouraged to witness the testing and sealing.
“Ang tanan nila nga mga doubts and questions it will be answered sa final testing and sealing,” said Majarucon-Sia.
A total of 2,572 VCMs and the same number of voters registration verification machines (VRVMs) would be used in this city and Iloilo province.
According to Iloilo provincial election supervisor Atty. Roberto Salazar, “Ang mga electoral board especially ang mga BEIs amo ang ma-conduct sang final testing and sealing sa mga precincts. However in far-flung barangays like Alimodian, San Joaquin and Carles sa Poblacion lang anay hiwaton.”
Comelec Resolution No. 10487 issued on Jan. 23, 2019 listed the procedures in the final testing and sealing. These must be followed to the letter.
In a related development, an estimated 800 male and female persons derived of liberty (PDL) at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) jail facilities in this southern city will also get to vote on May 13.
Majarucon-Sia said the city Comelec has appointed special election boards in clustered precincts established inside the jail facilities.
There will be two clustered precincts at the BJMP female dormitory on General Luna Street and six at the BJMP male dormitory in Barangay Ungka, Jaro district.
“We also have support staff. Ang ila obligation is to go to the regular precincts sa mga PDL voters, kuhaon ang ila balota then idul-ong sa BJMP facilities for them to vote. After the voting, ibalik sa regular precinct para ma-scan sang VCM,” saod Majarucon-Sia.
The voting in the jails starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 2p.m./PN
