BY THE METRO TEAM
Malfunctioning Vote Counting Machines (VCMs), long lines, power interruptions, fainting spells, rising temperatures and tempers, and breaches in the prescribed minimum health protocols marred the opening of the May 9 national and local elections on Monday.
On top of these, a fire hit Aurora Elementary School in Malate, Manila while voting was ongoing caused by faulty electrical wiring. The fire started at 8:52 a.m. and was immediately put under control at 9:04 a.m.
Power interruption was also reported in Valenzuela City which was eventually restored at 8:44 a.m.
Long queues, some snakelike, were seen in Quezon City High School in Kamuning, Quezon City as early as 5:00 a.m. and on Santan Street in Marikina City where Fortune Elementary School is located.
More long lines of voters were observed in:
Las Pinas National High School
Potrero Elementary School in Malabon City
Tabang Elementary School in Guiguinto, Bulacan
Eulogio Rodriguez Integrated School in Mandaluyong City
Magat Salamat Elementary School in Tondo, Manila (where Manila Mayor and presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso was scheduled to cast his vote)
Ramon Magsaysay High School on Espana Boulevard, Manila
Legarda Elementary School in Manila
Xavier School in San Juan City
Morning Breeze Elementary School in Caloocan City (where mayoral candidate Along Malapitan and incumbent Mayor Oscar Malapitan cast their vote)
Parang Elementary School in Marikina City
Christ the King covered court in Quezon City (where incumbent Mayor Joy Belmonte will cast her vote)
La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City (where Quezon City mayoral candidate Michael “Mike” Defensor cast his vote)
Gregorio Perfecto Elementary School in Tondo, Manila
VCM issues
Voters had to wait in line in Sta. Ana Elementary School in Manila as several VCMs reportedly malfunctioned and voters were told to sign a waiver allowing poll watchers to insert their ballots into the VCMs.
The Commission on Elections said voters’ ballots may be left in the care of the Electoral Board if the VCMs malfunction.
In Esteban Abada Elementary School in Sampaloc, Manila, the SD of a VCM was reportedly not working.
Six VCMs also failed to function in Paranaque City.
Two VCMs in two polling precincts in Quezon City also malfunctioned.
Isolation rooms
The Isolation Rooms set up in Xavier School in San Juan City and Fortune Elementary School for voters exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 have so far remained empty as of this posting.
Early birds
Among the early birds who cast their votes aside from the multitude all over the country that flocked to the voting precincts were presidential aspirants Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson at the Bayang Luma Elementary School in Imus, Cavite, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. at Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac, Ilocos Norte, and Ka Leody De Guzman in Cainta, Rizal.
Priority lanes, free rides
Priority lanes were set up for senior citizens, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women at Xavier School in San Juan City.
Wheelchairs were being offered at Malanday Elementary School in Marikina City where a PWD reportedly fell while casting his vote.
Tricycle drivers and operators in Marikina City offered free rides to voters at Parang Elementary School.
