Tagum polls generally peaceful

Printed reminders are posted outside the polling precincts in Don Ricardo Briz Elementary School. (davaotoday.com photo by Mart D. Sambalud)

This was according to Tagum Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting Coordinator Juan Castillo, adding that per monitoring round-up report as of 6 PM Monday, there was no reported election-related violence.

By MART D. SAMBALUD
Davao Today

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines — Except for minor glitches like rejected and jammed ballots, the voting in this city’s precincts was “generally organized and peacefully conducted.”

This was according to Tagum Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting Coordinator Juan Castillo, adding that per monitoring round-up report as of 6 PM Monday, there was no reported election-related violence.

Castillo observed that majority of the polling precincts here have devised a scheme which avoided the long queues of voters outside the polling precincts unlike in 2010.

In Don Ricardo Briz Central Elementary School, polling precincts have two holding rooms where voters were seated in five rows.  Voting was done by batch and only 10 voters were allowed to queue outside while another 10 were inside the poll precincts casting their ballots.

Support Staff Kathleen Demante in Clustered 11 precinct said “mas maayo nga naay duha ka holding rooms kay para dili magkagubot ug dili mag unahan kung kinsa una mag boto.”

Earlier, a commotion transpired in Clustered precinct 63A where one voter insisted not to follow the order of voting.  It was resolved when Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) called up police personnel to apprehend the said voter.

In Magugpo Pilot Central Elementary Schools, large printed reminders and procedures written in local dialect were posted outside the polling precincts.

“Nindot kay naay dagko na mga pahinumdum nakabutang gawas sa presinto.  Ug labaw sa tanan mas masabtan namo kay nasulat sa bisaya,” said Boyet Agosto, a senior citizen.

Aside from this, hotline numbers were also posted inside the school premises, in case of emergency.

A separate line was also observed to prioritize persons with disabilities, those who were sick, injured or senior citizens.

However, paper jams and a number of technical glitches also affected some PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machines.

In Magugpo Pilot Imelda Elementary School, one PCOS machine rejected several ballots, while in Don Ricardo Briz Central Elementary School ballots also jammed.

BEI Chairman Juan Marquez said, “(T)he PCOS machine was already full of ballots and we have to use wood sticks to push the jammed ballots.”

Delio Celio, PCOS Technical Support staff, said they considered it only a “minor” glitch and it was readily resolved.  (Mart D. Sambalud/davaotoday.com)