The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Oriental completed the delivery of all automated counting machines (ACMs) to the province’s towns and cities yesterday afternoon.

Five delivery vans, carrying the ACMs, were dispatched simultaneously starting 5:00 a.m. to transport the machines to the six cities and 19 municipalities of Negros Oriental. The delivery convoys were escorted by personnel from both the police and military to ensure security.

Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-Negros Island Region director, said the deliveries were completed as scheduled by the end of the day.

Castillano invited volunteers from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)/Diocesan Electoral Board, as well as other interested parties and individuals, to witness the arrival of the ACMs in their respective towns or cities.

“In the interest of transparency and public trust, we are encouraging poll watchers, volunteers, candidates, and the public to observe the deployment and arrival of the ACMs. They are also welcome to ‘guard’ the ACMs until election day,” he said in an interview.

A total of 1,289 ACMs, matching the number of clustered voting centers in the province, were deployed yesterday, along with contingency units assigned to each town or city. The battery packs for the machines were transported separately at an earlier time.

Upon arrival, the ACMs were received by the election officers at their respective offices for safekeeping until the Final Testing and Sealing process, which is scheduled for May 6 at the designated polling places.

Castillano assured that the Comelec is on schedule with the delivery of the ACMs and other essential election paraphernalia, and that the process has proceeded without any significant untoward incidents. (PNA)