Random manual audit in 30 areas

Did the vote-counting machines (VCMs) correctly read the ballots during the May 9 elections? Comelec will know the answer after the random manual audit that is being conducted in 30 clustered precincts. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started conducting a random manual audit in some clustered precincts in the province in order to check the accuracy of the vote-counting machines (VCMs) used during Monday’s elections.

Eliseo Labaria, acting Cebu Comelec provincial supervisor, said only Liloan town in northern Cebu has sent a report through its Random Manual Audit Team (RMAT) as of Wednesday morning.

The result of the audit was “perfect,” Labaria said. This means that the VCMs had read the ballots correctly and the outcome matched the results based on manual counting of votes.

Other towns in the list of areas for random manual audit were San Fernando in the first district; Boljoon and Santander in the second district; Aloguinsan, Balamban and Pinamungajan in the third district; Medellin and Tabogon in the fourth district; Compostela, Liloan, and Tudela in the fifth district; Consolacion in the sixth district; and Malabuyoc and Badian in the seventh district.

Also covered by the manual audit were: Talisay City and Carcar City in the first district; Bogo City in the fourth district; Danao City in the fifth district; two barangays (Tipolo and Paknaan) in Mandaue City in the sixth district; two barangays (Basak and Pajo) in Lapu-Lapu City lone district; and six barangays (Mabolo, T. Padilla, Talamban, Guadalupe, Inayawan and Kalunasan) in Cebu City.

Under Comelec rules, one VCM per voting district would be subjected to a manual audit.

Based on the Comelec website, a total of 30 clustered precincts in Cebu province have been identified for the random manual audit.