MANILA: No major problems were encountered at the start of the final testing and sealing of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr reported.
“So far, there’s no problem. We don’t expect any problem in this precinct… and we don’t expect any problem in the entire country,” said Brillantes, who personally supervised the Field Testing and Sealing at Precinct 24 in Gotamco Elementary School in Pasay City.
Teachers serving as Board of Elections Inspectors (BEIs) checked if the PCOS machines have all the accessories based on a checklist provided by the Comelec.
The BEIs then operated the PCOS machines, including connecting the power adaptor to the machines and the battery in case there is no power; keying in the security key; setting the correct date and time; and feeding the ballots.
Brillantes said the machines that passed the tests would be sealed and stored in a secure place either at the school or at the Comelec’s PCOS hubs.
“The same machine will come to this room for election day…It will be opened again,” he said.
During the testing, Brillantes also ordered a manual count of the ballots counted by the PCOS machines to check their accuracy.
Brillantes said members of the Random Manual Audit team will do the manual counting.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
