Voting machines arrive in Kidapawan City, ready for May 9 polls

KIDAPAWAN CITY -— At least 119 Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) and other election paraphernalia arrived here on Monday morning, exactly a week before the national and local election on Monday. Dindo Epino, Kidapawan Cityelection officer, said the VCMs will be temporarily stored inside their office at the back of the city gymnasium and will be securedby members of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Nothing to worry since these VCMs are in good hands and secured while inside our office,” Epino told reporters. He said, after the final sealing and testing on May 5, all VCMs will then be delivered to various voting precincts all over the city. Epino disclosed that each VCM will be guarded by at least two PNP personnel to ensure its safety. He said all candidates have been notified and they can send representatives to monitor the machines until election time comes.In villages considered as areas of concern at least three policepersonnel and counterpart from the military have already been assigned to assure safety of election paraphernalia to be used in the May 9 elections. At least eight barangays in Kidapawan City were considered areas of concern due to the presence of armed men. Epino did not name the villages. The presence of suspected New Peoples Army was one of the reasons why some areas were listed as areas of concern. We will entrust this matter to the authorities,” Epino said even as he appealed to the voters to come out and vote on May 9.