More VCMs, SD cards found defective

MORE defective machines and memory cards that were distributed for the May 13 midterm National and Local Elections were found to be defective.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) records showed that out of the 85,769 vote-counting machines (VCM) and Secure Digital (SD) cards, there were 961 (1.1 percent) VCMs and 1,665 (1.9 percent) SD cards that were found defective and needed replacement on Election Day last Monday, May 13.

The figures are higher than the 801 VCMs and 120 SD cards that had to be replaced in the 2016 elections.

"Definitely, as compared in 2016, there are more now," said Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas in a press conference.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, in a social media post, said 1,253 SD cards were fixed and some 96.7 percent of elections returns have been transmitted.

Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, head of the Comelec 2019 Steering Committee, said the defective cards were made of low quality.

He said the Comelec had to follow the Government Procurement Law in looking for an SD cards supplier for a budget of P80 million.

"If we review the bidding process on the SD cards, our approved budget is about P80 million. However, since we are applying the procurement rules, which is the lowest bid, which was P39 million. So what do we expect with a P39 million

for that scenario?” said Casquejo.

On the other hand, Casquejo cited the possibility of the VCMs already being “old”.

He noted that the VCMs were the same ones that were used in the May 2016 elections.

“Even if we have our cellphone, laptops or computers, their ageing is usually only three years, some five years. By then you have to upgrade it,” noted Casquejo.

Abas said they would be willing to cooperate in any investigation that may be sought.

“We are willing to give that even without request just to make sure that there were no irregularities in our system,” assured Abas.

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Tuesday proposed a congressional probe on the VCM glitches.

The Comelec is also conducting its own investigation to determine whether some personnel should be held liable for the glitches.(SunStar Philippines)