By MIKHA FLORES
The 2013 mid-term elections had a rough start in many precincts in parts of the country because of malfunctioning machines that caused delays, frustration and even fears among voters that they might not be able to cast their votes.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr said they have received reports about the glitches and were trying to address the problems.
But the president of Smartmatic Asia-Pacific, the supplier of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, said glitches and other technical difficulties were part and parcel of an automated electoral process.
Smartmatic’s Cesar Flores said the Comelec has more than 2,000 replacement PCOS ready to replace around 200 to 300 PCOS machines that he expects to conk out.
“What I see right now is consistent with any country in the world. You will have machines failing during Election Day…Throughout the day we will see this,” Cesar Flores told reporters.