Mock polls achieve 100% transmission rate – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — The mock polls held in 30 barangays across the country yesterday were successful, with a transmission rate of 100 percent, according to the Commission on Elections.

The Comelec said that aside from 15 participating municipalities, a similar activity was conducted in Singapore for overseas voters.

“It was 100 percent successful and voting in all precincts started at exactly 7 a.m.,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia told journalists in Patikul, Sulu, one of the areas that hosted the mock polls.

The conduct of mock polls was part of the preparations for the May elections.

The Comelec noted a 100-percent rate in the transmission of data from precincts to municipal or city canvassing centers, central and back-up servers and other servers including the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and National Movement for Free Elections.

Garcia said that transmissions of data from municipal to provincial board of canvassers and from PBOCs to national board of canvassers were also seamless.

The poll body reported an average voter turnout of 80 percent.

Caraga posted the highest voter turnout with 97.5 percent and the lowest was Eastern Visayas with 46 percent.

John Rex Laudiangco, spokesman for the Comelec, said that holding mock elections in remote areas would help determine challenges faced by the Comelec and the voters.

Garcia said Sulu was the first to transmit results of the mock elections.

“The Starlink (internet service) is being used in Sulu. The transmission was very fast,” Garcia said, noting that Starlink is being used in areas where signal is weak or no telco SIM is working.

“There are areas, even in Metro Manila, with weak internet signal. We will also be using Starlink satellites in these areas,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has expressed alarm over reports that 10 security guards were among 334 people arrested for violating the Comelec gun ban.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil ordered the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies or SOSIA to coordinate with and remind security agencies about the rules and regulations governing the gun ban.

“Despite our continuous reminder, the number of security guards arrested for gun possession keeps increasing,” Col. Randulf Tuano, PNP public information officer, said.

Tuano said Marbil ordered all regional police chiefs to intensify information campaign on the prohibition of carrying firearms in public.

Up to 337 firearms have been seized since the election period started on Jan. 12.

The PNP has recorded five suspected election-related incidents, including three in Western Visayas, and one each in Cagayan Valley and Soccsksargen. — Emmanuel Tupas