PH posts start final testing, sealing of VCMs

Days before the start of the month-long overseas voting, Philippine posts abroad have started conducting the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) of the vote counting machines.

These Philippine embassies and consulates that have conducted or set to conduct the FTS are the following: Bangkok (April 1), Brunei (April 5), Macau (April 4), Singapore (April 5), Barcelona (April 5), London (April 6), Abu Dhabi (April 2), Doha (April 2), Kuwait (April 4), Manama (April 2), Muscat (April 4), Agana (April 3), San Francisco (April 4), and Vancouver (April 6).

"The purpose of the FTS is to test the accuracy of the VCMs and its proper operation in preparation for the start of overseas voting," read the notice from the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait.

Once the testing is successfully done, the VCMs will be sealed and will only be opened on the start of the voting period.

All candidates, political parties, party-list organizations, and accredited citizen's arm were invited to observe the FTS which was conducted by the Special Boards of Election Inspectors.

The Comelec has set the overseas voting from April 10, 2022 to May 9, 2022.