May 3 FTS, Metro Manila: PCOS machines failing to properly read ballots

    In a number of precincts in Metro Manila, there were reports of the PCOS machines failing to properly read the ballots during the final sealing and testing (FTS) of PCOS machines that was conducted yesterday.
    In many polling centers in Pasay City, for instance, the PCOS machines only read the name of Peewee Trinidad as the mayoralty candidate.
    At the Cembo Elementary School and South Cembo Elementary School in Makati City, the PCOS machines did not read the names of mayoralty candidates Jejomar Erwin Binay and Ernesto Mercado. At the San Jose Elementary School, also in Makati City, the result of the manual count did not tally with the result from the PCOS machine. The BEI explained that it may be the result of improper shading, i.e., the PCOS machine accepted the ballot but did not count the votes improperly shaded.
    In Muntinlupa City, a PCOS machine still read a ballot that was intentionally shaded twice for vice mayor. The BEI member could not explain why the PCOS machine still counted the ballot despite the over voting.
    At the Amado V. Hernandez Elementary School along Herbosa St., Tondo, Manila, where 21 machines were tested in one room, the results of machine and manual counts failed to tally. At the Sampaloc Elementary School, the machine did not read any of the votes for mayoral candidates, while in the manual count Lito Atienza got nine votes and Alfredo Lim got one. At the Graciano Lopez Jaena Elementary School, the PCOS machine read only one vote for mayor.
    At the Tanyag Elementary School in Taguig, the machine and manual counts did not tally.
    Other glitches
    Aside from failing to properly read the ballots, other glitches were also monitored during the final testing and sealing of the PCOS machines.
    At the Cembo Elementary School in Makati City, one PCOS machine failed to generate a correct initialization report (i.e., list of candidates showing zero votes), delaying the final testing and sealing in the process.
    At least one missing PCOS machine was monitored at the Alabang Elementary School and Lodora Village in Muntinlupa City.
    Meanwhile, confusion marked the final testing and sealing in several areas. In Muntinlupa City, some PCOS machines were not sealed due to power failure. The BEI members could not explain to the poll watchers why the backup batteries were not used.
    Some BEI members were also still familiarizing with the automated election system. At the Zamora Elementary School in Pasay City, the final testing and sealing were delayed because BEI members still had to review the protocol.
    At the San Jose Elementary School in Makati City, the BEI did not conduct a manual count to verify the accuracy of the results produced by the PCOS machines.
    In Muntinlupa City, on the other hand, poll watchers were not asked to produce Comelec-approved identification cards.
    In Manila, at the Amado V. Hernandez Elementary School, almost all members of the BEI were found to be unaware of the FTS process, and most did not know how to operate PCOS machines. Meanwhile, a machine jammed at the Sampaloc Elementary School.
    At the Masville Elementary School in Parañaque City, the PCOS machine kept rejecting ballots.
    The BEI at the Tanyag Elementary School in Taguig were unfamiliar with operation of the PCOS machines.

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