“We opened a PCOS machine yesterday and there is evidence of fraud that’s why we want to make sure that the remaining 58 machines are intact and untouched so that under the proper investigation with the Senate committee, proper yung procedure to uncover the elements [of fraud],” A statement said by presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas from an interview.
Almost 2000 civilians swarmed the COMELEC owing to poll fraud allegations. After a day of that event, 60 controversial precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines that was believed to have been used to commit poll fraud, left the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. These PCOS have been sent to the Senate to be investigated. These machines were guarded heavily by atleast 400 police and military escorts and a mere 100 cars and 4 buses were used to deliver this controversial package.
The COMELEC had asked the Senate to act as custodian of the controversial machines, earlier erroneously reported as a total of 67 units, which were used in the country’s first nationwide automated polls. The move will ensure that the machines will be “safeguarded and will not be tinkered with, tampered with by unauthorized individuals,” Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal told reporters that “What is important is that the machines should not be touched or the boxes should not be opened because [they were] sealed by the Board of Election Inspectors.”
Because of these occurrences, supporters of losing mayoral candidate Angelito Gatlabayan, presidential candidates Sen. Maria Anna Consuelo Madrigal, Olongapo Councilor John Carlos de los Reyes, and environmentalist Nicanor Perlas forcibly entered the storage room and asked their technicians to open the machines.
Smartmatic on the other hand wants to file criminal charges against Sen. Maria Anna Consuelo Madrigal, Olongapo Councilor John Carlos de los Reyes and environmentalist Nicanor Perlas for tampering with the machines without Comelec permission.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the machines will be stored in an area with security cameras “so that we will know who are approaching and who are entering or touching any of these materials.”
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