“THE numbers continue to rise.”
Thus said Akap Bata Partylist spokesperson Lean Peace Flores on the reports of irregularities and failed PCOS machines. Contrary to Commission on Election’s (COMELEC) claim that only 96 precints nationwide has experienced PCOS failures, Akap Bata Partylist cites partial numbers of failed PCOS machines and other irregularities in National Capital Region (NCR) alone gathered by local watchdog Task Force Pollwatch NCR as of 12 PM*:
PCOS Machine shut down: 10
PCOS Malfunction (No memory card back up, ballots rejected etc.): 50
Police, Military involvement, harassment of progressive pollwatchers: 3
Case of vote buying: 1
Other irregularities – Manual voting – 1, Was not able to vote – 2, Watchers not allowed in the precint – 3
The cases were monitored from the cities of Manila, Caloocan, Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, Las Piṅas and Paranaque.
Because of this, the group warns of massive disenfranchisement and will taint the credibility of elections. “The elections is only one of the few democratic opportunities for the poor to elect their representatives now their votes are at the brink of disenfranchisement” said Flores
“For the past months, we hear nothing from the COMELEC but they are ready for this election day. What they say is different from what is truly happening” Flores added.
The group said that “Judging from the glaring numbers of failures and irregularities, the COMELEC must present a contingency plan and act now!”
Akap bata calls on all voters not only to exercise their right to vote but also calls for collective vigilance to expose and stop possible disenfranchisement and to fight for a credible election result.