Philippines: Voting kicks off in crucial elections

Manila: The big decision day has come for the Philippines.

Voting kicked off as early as 6 am throughout the country on Monday (May 9, 2022) as millions formed a beeline to pick the country’s 17th president, vice president, 12 senators, congressmen as well as provincial and local executives.

More than 65.7 million registered voters started queueing up to polling precincts (mostly school classrooms) for the high-stakes exercise to pick the next set of officials to lead the nation of about 110 million.

3 killed

Elections are a traditionally a volatile time in the Philippines. Three security guards were killed on Monday when gunmen opened fire at a polling station in southern Philippines, as millions of people voted in national elections.

A fourth guard was wounded in the attack, police said.

The deadly shooting took place shortly after voting began in the Buluan municipality in Maguindanao province on Mindanao island, AFP reported.

The region experiences attacks from various armed groups, including communist insurgents and slamist extremists.

Voters ran for cover when the shooting started at the school that has been turned into a polling station, former mayor Ibrahim Mangudadatu said.

The shooting came after the explosion of five grenades outside a polling station in Datu Unsay municipality late on Sunday that hurt nine people.

Minutes after that attack, a grenade exploded in the neighbouring municipality of Shariff Aguak, also in Maguindanao, but there were no casualties.

Early results in the automated voting may be expected hours after the 7pm close on Monday (4pm UAE time), through the official transparency and media servers.

Vote counting machines, accidents

There are isolated reports of malfunctioning vote counting machines (VCMs), but a Comelec official said their people on the ground are responding accordingly.

The official added that people reporting VCM breakdowns on social media should also include the precinct number and location for prompt, specific action.

Gulf News also learnt about at least two election officials meeting a vehicular accident en route to their assigned polling precincts, but replacement staff had been arranged.

Some problems with VCMs had been reported, amid an otherwise generally smooth voting process.

One person reported his ballot was counted but was not issued a receipt because the VCM running out of receipt paper for printing. The incident was reported in Cluster 218, San Isidro National High School, Makati City.

The Inquirer reported a VCM in Camarin, Caloocan City has been down for an hour. Officials have advised voters to leave their ballots so they can be processed “later”.

Barry Gutierrez, current spokesperson of Vice President Leni Robredo, reported he was in line to vote at 5:30 am. "Now they're telling us there’s a problem with the VCM and we should just come back. No time was given.”

Election with a difference

Compared to previous elections, this year's voting has additional health and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic, though vaccination cards, confirmatory swab tests, and face shields are not required at polling stations. Temperature scanners are mandatory: if a voter’s temperature is 37.5°C or higher, a voter will be checked by health personnel.

New president

The new chief executive takes over next month, when the term of President Rodrigo Duterte (16th president) expires on June 30, 2022.

There are 10 candidates vying to replace Rodrigo Duterte as president, but only two really matter, according to most public opinion polls.

The election outcome will give the country an chance for a reset of the relationships of the Philippines — whose location and natural resources are considered strategic — with major global powers.

Key points to know:

⦿ Over 65.7 million Filipinos are eligible to vote. Voter turnout in the last few elections averaged about 70%.

⦿  Polling hours in the Philippines expanded to run from 6 am to 7 pm to allow greater physical distancing in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

⦿  Today, Monday (May 9, 2022), is also the final voting day for 1.69 million registered overseas Filipino voters. End of voting will be in synch with the 7pm closing time in the Philippines.

⦿  Until Sunday, only 31% of registered voters overseas have so far cast their ballots, according to the commission.

⦿  There are 18,100 positions are up for grabs — including president and vice president, 12 senators, over 300 House of Representatives seats, "Party List” and thousands of local executive and legislative posts.

⦿ The vote counting machines are equipped with back-up battery in case of power outage.

⦿  Persons with disability, senior citizens, and people who are illiterate are allowed to be assisted in filling up their ballots by a relative or another person who belongs to the person’s household like a caregiver or personal assistant, who should be of voting age.

⦿ Temperature scanners are mandatory: if a voter’s temperature is 37.5°C or higher, a voter will be checked by health personnel.

⦿ Vote Pilipinas [votepilipinas.com/index.html], the official voter information campaign partner of Comelec, contains all the profiles of each presidential, vice presidential and senatorial candidate — including "party list" groups.

⦿ The conduct of this crucial vote will be closely tracked by international observers.

⦿ Official transparency and media servers will display partial, unofficial live results. The powerful Commission on Elections (Comelec) will declare the winning candidates.

⦿  Lawyer Saidamen Balt Pangarungan, a Muslim Filipino, is the current head of Comelec.

⦿ Early, unofficial results will start coming in hours after polling precincts close.

⦿ The term of the new president and vice president ends in 2028.