By MIKHA FLORES, MELISSA LUZ LOPEZ, MARK PERE MADRONA and VINCE NONATO
DELAYS, confusion and malfunctioning machines marred the testing on Monday of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, raising fears that these incidents might cause voter disenfranchisement on election day.
But Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. dismissed these incidents as minor glitches that will not affect actual poll results.
He said the difficulties encountered by election workers who conducted the final testing and sealing (FTS) of the automated machines in different places should not be considered problems as they can be addressed before the May 13 elections.
According to field reports gathered by VERA Files from around Metro Manila, many of the complaints had to do with malfunctioning machines, delays in the testing due to late deliveries or switching of the PCOS units; election workers or technicians’ inability to fix technical glitches, etc.