By Roy Ramos
ZAMBOANGA, the Philippines (AA) – Millions of Filipino voters flocked to voting stations to elect a new president and other leaders Monday, only to be greeted by paper jams, and faulty machines.
GMA News reported the Commission on Elections as preparing a resolution mid-morning to extend the voting period in some polling precincts.
Many of the machines would not accept the ballots fed into them, causing paper jams at several poll precincts in eight of the dozens of schools turned into voting centers in southern Zamboanga City, Brigada News Radio reported.
GMA also received reports of glitches in Isabela City, Basilan province, Romblon, Negros Oriental, Tacloban City, Roxas City, Capiz and Masbate in the central Philippines as well as in several voting centers in Metro Manila.
For every hour that the voting is delayed, another hour will be added to the voting period.
Outspoken southern Philippines mayor Rodrigo Duterte is favorite to win the presidency, despite controversial campaign comments and a hardline stance on criminals.
Recent opinion polls showed Duterte comfortably ahead of his four rivals.
Election campaigning has been driven by concerns about corruption, the economy and inequality.
Voting started at 6 a.m. (2200GMT Sunday), and was initially expected to finish at 5 p.m, however such delays may see it extended to 7 p.m.
Most of voters had to endure long lines in extreme heat — temperatures across the archipelago averaged 37 to 38 degrees — as senior citizens and voters with children were given priority.
In Cebu City, in the country’s central region, a 46-year-old woman died of suspected heat stroke while waiting for her turn to vote, while another voter fainted while waiting her turn.
Authorities have advised voters to bring bottled water to polling stations.
