Glitches in automated polls disappointing, should be solved at least a month before election day--Sen. Marcos

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. today expressed disappointment over the technical glitches in the mock polls conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Marcos said the poll body should vigorously move to correct all technical glitches in the automated elections system and make sure they are solved at least a month before the May 9 elections.

The Comelec's mock polls, conducted last Saturday to test the automated election system, revealed various flaws including technical glitches that delayed voting in some precincts, some ballots rejected as well as transmission problems.

"We are quite disappointed that the Comelec has not been able to streamline their operation and every step of the way, mukhang nagkakaproblema," said Marcos.

He added, "I hope that the Comelec, Chairman (Andres) Bautista especially, would be able to do something to correct these issues way before the elections. Hindi pwedeng one or two days, it has to be at least a month before," said Marcos.

He also rejected an earlier announcement from the Comelec of possible postponement of elections in some areas of the country. "Delikado yan. Remember that you cannot delay the elections. It is a constitutional mandate; it must be held on the second Monday of May," he added.

Marcos earlier said the glitches in the automated election system is causing a lot of concern for all the candidates.

"We are all very concerned pagkahindi gumagana yung sistema ng Comelec. Actually everybody is very worried," he said.

Likewise, Marcos noted reports that there were problems in the printing of ballots.

"Delikado yan. Dahil kung maaalala pa ninyo nung ang resulta ng eleksyon ay binibilang na mano-mano ang nagiging problema ay yung pagka-antala ng canvassing. Itong postponement ay katumbas ng pag-antala na naman ng canvassing, kaya papano yan?"