Comelec ready for May 13 elections

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) assured the public it is ready for the May 13 midterm polls as the final testing and sealing (FTS) of the 85,000 vote counting machines (VCMs) started yesterday.

“We are ready. The delivery of election materials is almost 100 percent complete,” James Jimenez, spokesman for the Comelec, said.

The FTS will determine if the VCMs can count the votes accurately and if the results will be transmitted from the polling precincts to the canvassing centers.

Jimenez said ballots have been delivered all over the country, with only a few areas left in the National Capital Region and Central Luzon.

The Comelec toured members of the media around the PICC-The Forum facility, where the national canvassing of ballots will be held.

The poll body is expecting to proclaim the winners in the local elections within 24 to 36 hours after voting closes at the polling precincts.

The Comelec is targeting to proclaim the Magic 12 in the senatorial race within two weeks after the elections.

The Comelec and Philippine National Police (PNP) are hopeful that the midterm polls will be peaceful and orderly.

Jimenez said fewer areas are considered poll hotspots.

The poll body observed that election-related violence is not as intense compared to the previous months, according to Jimenez.

Jimenez said there are less than 550 areas under Category Red, the highest stage among the hotspots, due to the presence of armed groups and history of election-related violence.

“I think this is important because at the start of the year or even before the election period, many people have been killed. But in recent days, election-related violence decreased,” he said.

He pointed out that election-related violence increased after candidates filed their certificates of candidacy in October last year.

“The numbers show that the tension had eased, and hopefully this would mean that we’re back on track for relatively peaceful elections,” Jimenez said.

PNP spokesman Col. Bernard Banac said they expect the peace and order situation in the run up to the polls would continue until Election Day.

“The PNP along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines is on full alert. So we are not taking any chances,” he said during a forum at the Comelec.

Banac said they have not received threats from any group to disrupt the upcoming polls.

“We assure the public that the PNP will remain apolitical and impartial as we are mandated to protect the will of the electorate toward honest, orderly and peaceful elections,” he said. – With Helen Flores, Paolo Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan