34 malfunctioning VCMs in Pangasinan reported


PANGASINAN -- About 34 vote-counting machines (VCMs) malfunctioned during the casting of votes in different towns in this province.

Based on reports gathered by the Manila Bulletin from Pangasinan Provincial Police Office, the towns that reported incidents of malfunctioning VCMs were Anda, Agno, Bani, Bolinao, Sual, Alaminos , Aguilar, Labrador, Mangatarem, Bayambang, Mapandan, Mangaldan, Dagupan City,Bautista, Binalonan, Laoac, Pozorrubio, Balungao, Rosales, San Nicolas,Tayug, and Umingan.

Of the 3339 total VCMs in the province, 34 reportedly malfunctioned.

Some of the technical problems hounding the malfunctioning VCMs were the following: they could not read the ballot, paper jam, overheat, unable to print receipt, shutdown, sudden stop, and technical problems of SD Card.

But as of 4:00 p.m. on Monday, 29 were already fixed and became functional, and only four remained defective.

The conduct of elections in Pangasinan remained peaceful and orderly and there were no major election-related violent incidents as of 4 p.m.

Some 64 police personnel from the Special Action Force were given by the Police Regional Office 1 to augment in areas under orange category.

PPO said they were deployed in four strategic areas namely, Urdaneta City and municipalities of Rosales, Sison and Sual so they could immediately respond to violent incidents that may arise.