COMELEC kit held at Spanish customs delay transmission of election results in Madrid

Special Board of Canvassers in Madrid checking the printed election returns.

by Jeona Tambalong Castro

Madrid. – Transmission of the election results in Madrid was held off for a day due to the delay in the arrival of Consolidation and Canvassing System (CCS) kit after it was held at the Spanish customs.

According to Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General Mark Francis Hamoy, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) sent the kit last May 5 and after checking with the Spanish Customs, the embassy was told that the parcels received are still undergoing verification. Customs also informed the embassy that it will relay the result of the verification process of the parcel by 7.30 PM.

Despite multiple follow-ups made by the embassy, no response was received by 7:00 PM. As a result, the SBOC opted to print the transmission report, which was then signed and securely sealed for transmission the following day.

Signed and sealed envelope containing the election returns at the Philippine embassy in Madrid.

The delay in the release of the CCS kit prompted a recess in the proceedings of the Special Board of Canvassers, led by Consul General Mark Francis Hamoy last May 12.  

Present  during the proceeding were CCS ( Consolidation and Canvassing System) operator Mr. Dhon Elacion, SBOC ( Special Board of Canvassers ) member secretary Labat Ms. Angela Trinidad, RCG Mr. Chester Omaga Diaz & Ms. Liz Riosa, and SBOC  Vice-Chairman Ms. Monika Limpo.

It was decided by the SBOC that the transmission will be continued the following day, May 13.

The CCS kit was finally received by the embassy at 10.14 AM last May 13 and SBOC reconvened to resume canvassing and transmission of the election results.   

Staff at the Philippine embassy in Madrid assisted the voters who came to the embassy last May 12.

Voting at the Philippine embassy proceeded from 9 AM to 1 PM last May 12 with the staff assisting those who needed help in navigating the online voting system.

After the voting was closed at 1:35 PM, the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) started printing the election returns. The first two attempts were discarded due to errors and put inside an envelope sealed with a serial number, and will be forwarded to the Commission on Elections ( Comelec ) for review.

Special Board of Canvassers checking the printed election returns.

A total of 30 sets of election returns were signed by the SBEI chairman, Consul Eric Villanueva, poll clerk Consul Dyan Kristine Miranda-Pastrana,  member Ms. Jolina Bolido and three poll watchers, which are then sealed in envelopes.

Of the 15,285 overseas registered voters in Madrid and Canarias, only 2,813 voters cast their votes, reflecting a turnout of only 18.41%. 

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