MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – On Monday, May 9, over 54 million Filipinos were set to cast their votes. Not everyone may be able to do so for various reasons.
Early voters encountered problems involving the vote counting machines (VCMs) – from VCMs that are not working to those that reject ballots.
Below are some of the technical problems, vote buying, vote selling, campaign offenses, and other election-related incidents reported through Rappler's #PHVoteWatch Map.
Voting process lapses
MovePH has been receiving reports from its Movers on the ground regarding poll clerks and members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) who are not following the proper voting process.
A Mover from Tacloban City reported that the BEI assisting her did not fold her voter's receipt, hence was able to see her vote.
This violates guidelines set by the Commission of Elections (Comelec). This also breaks voter privacy.
In a precinct in Brgy Culiat, Quezon City, Rappler David Lozada reported that poll staff forgot to apply indelible ink on his finger after voting.
"I had to remind them," Lozada said, sharing his worries on flying voters.
The campaign period for both local and national candidates officially ended on Saturday, May 7. However, some campaign teams are still seen giving away materials on election day itself. (READ: List of bans for 2016 elections)
A Mover observed that sample ballots and campaign materials of local councilors were still being distributed near precincts in Angeles City, Pampanga.
The distributors caught in the act were children.
Senior citizens, PWDs
In Pantukan, Compostela Valley, a Mover observed that senior citizens had to wait in line alongside other voters.
According to the Comelec, precincts should have an express lane for the exclusive use of persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and heavily pregnant women. (WATCH: How to vote on May 9?)
Precincts should also be "accesible and inclusive." They should be near the entrace of the building and free of physical barriers.
VCM woes
In Brgy. Tabigue in Abuyog, Leyte, voting did not start on time as the Vote Counting Machine (VCM) is not working. (READ: Leni Robredo voting delayed as VCM malfunctions)
In Angeles City, Pampanga, a precinct will proceed with manual voting after a VCM failed to function 20 minutes after the opening of the polls, according to the precinct's BEI chairman Melie Ann Dizon.
The VCM was reported to reject its 7th ballot.
Dizon decided to proceed with manual voting at 7 am in Jose P. Dizon Elementary school, Brgy. Pandan.
Some voters have already left in dismay, fearing that the whole process might take longer than usual. Some also worry that their votes are no longer safe.
According to the VCM technician, the malfunction might have been caused by "excess ink" in the ballots
"The ballots were marked too hard," the technician explained.
As of 10:36 am, a new VCM has arrived to replaced the broken one. Another VCM, however, broke down in the same school at the very same hour.
Meanwhile in San Jose Central School in Tacloban City, a resident reported to poll watchdog LENTE that some voting receipts were not printed because the precinct ran out of thermal paper.
When refilled, however, the VCM was still unable to print receipts.
In Brgy. Tabigue in Abuyog, Leyte, people are getting tired of waiting in line as they are still unable to vote as of 9 am, 3 hours since the opening of polls.
The delay is due to a non-functional VCM.
Entering the 3rd hour of voting, another VCM broke down in Plaridel, Baybay City in Letye.
The same story goes for Central Elementary School in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley. The precinct's VCM was succesfully printing receipts starting 7 am. However, it stopped working after the 37th receipt.
As of 11 am, the VCM has been fixed.
Meanwhile in Davao City, one voter in Clustered Precinct No. 53 reported that his receipt reflected zero votes.
If a voter's receipt does not match votes casted on one's ballot, she or he should report it to the BEI, who will then note this down in the Minutes.
The voter will be asked to sign the receipt and take an oath. If the voter's claims are proven false, he could be charged with an election offense. (READ: Jail time for 'frivolous' complaints)
In case of VCM problems, BEIs should seek the help of VCM technicians.
For every 5 VCMs, there should be one VCM technician assigned. And for every municipality, there should be a VCM technical coordinator in charge of all technicians, according to the Comelec.
If the technical problem cannot be handled by the VCM technicians and coordinators, the National Technical Support Center should intervene.
Brownouts
Netizens have reported power outages in several areas of Davao City.
Writer Richard Mamuyac tweets, "Back-up generator worked but slowed down the voting process." (READ: How to prevent cheating in automated elections?)
Vote buying
In Jiabong, Western Samar, vote buying is reported to have started one hour past the opening of polls.
Witnesses reported cases of vote buying, tagging both mayoral candidates, who are allegedly engaged in a bidding war.
"Nagpapalakihan ng bigay. Initially, it was at P2,000, but the other party gave P2,200," a source said. (READ: Forms of vote buying)
Samar Mover, Derek Alviola, observed the circulation of cash marked with tiny holes.
"These are holes from staple wires. This is new money," Alviola said. "This is an indication that vote buying is rampant."
Alviola observed the flow of crisp and holed P20, P50, and P100 bills among karinderya, sari-sari stores, and tricycle drivers.
In Legazpi City, cash stapled to campaign materials are reported to be flowing.
@MovePH Vote buying is already visible here in Legazpi City It breaks my hear Gordon? #PHVoteWatch
— Keren Anne Bernadas (@keannebernadas) May 8, 2016
in the bathroom pic.twitter.com/8sxlc2XbPi
Incidents of vote buying were also reported in Baybay City, Leyte.
Money is being distributed house-to-house by "community leaders" hired by candidates belonging to the Liberal Party.
In Lapu-lapu City, Cebu, a mayoral candidate is reported to be distributing P100 bills, according to a Mover.
Some recipients were complaing about the payment since they were promised to receive P200.
In Consolacion, P500 bills clipped on sample ballots were reported to be given away on the eve of election day.
Ruined tarps, local violence
A mayoral bet in San Roque, Northern Samar was allegedly harassed by a barangay chairman on Saturday, May 7, two days away from election day.
Mary Jane Salomon, an independent candidate, claimed that barangay chairman Freddie Jarito humiliated her in public, destroyed her tarpaulin, and threatened her.
The incident, according to Solomon, happened while she was hanging her campaign tarpaulins in a market.
"He held my hand, grabbed me from the area [to the barangay hall]. When we were inside the barangay hall, he pointed a gun at me," Solomon told Rappler.
Inspector Marlon Tosto, officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police in San Roque, confirmed with Rappler that Jarito destroyed Solomon's campaign tarpaulin.
Tosto, however, said that the police officer who attended to the incident did not find a gun in Jarito's possession. "Those were Solomon's claims," Tosto told Rappler.
Meanwhile in Cebu, Dumanjug councilor, Ely Amadora, told the police that he was shot by alleged goons of Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano "Gungun" Gica, who is running for mayor under Liberal Party.
Amadora, who is seeking re-election under One Cebu, was unhurt.
Gica, however, denied allegations, pointing fingers at reelectionist Mayor Nelson Garcia of One Cebu.
#PHVoteWatch reports are currently being verified by the Rappler research team, Movers, and partner poll watchdogs on the ground.
Refresh this page for updates. – With reports from Ryan Macasero, Jene-Anne Pangue, Noa Carrascoso, Leera Valderama, Saim Iluis, Wenri De Guzman, Derek Alviola, Aika Rey/Rappler.com
Tell us what is happening in your area. Be part of the #PHVoteWatch effort! Learn more about it here. To volunteer for the #PHVoteWatch, email move.ph@rappler.com.