Cebu City: Members of the Election Board (EB) in Cebu City conducted Wednesday the final testing and sealing of automated counting machines (ACMs) in their respective polling centers, with representatives from the Commission on Elections (Comelec). At midnight on May 7, 2025, ACMs were loaded onto a wing van truck at Cebu City Hall for distribution to various polling precincts in the city’s 80 villages. The Cebu City Treasurer’s Office earlier received 900 ACMs for distribution to various polling centers.

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec also secured contingency ACMs at their offices in the North and South Districts, to serve as backup in case of equipment failure. During the final testing and sealing, teachers who serve as members of the EB verified the correct cluster numbers and the assigned ACMs and ballots.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Chief Police Col. Enrico Figueroa, who inspected schools to ensure that police personnel provide adequate security for the machines, declared the delivery of ACMs to polling centers a success, with no reported problems. Figueroa personally tested the ACM in Cluster 288 at the Abellana National School and confirmed its effectiveness and accuracy. He even attempted to insert a ballot from a different precinct into another ACM, which the machine rejected due to its unique barcode feature.

He said police personnel will maintain 24-hour security until the conclusion of the election on May 12, wherein about 1,271 uniformed police personnel will be deployed to polling centers to maintain peace and order.