By LITO RULONA Correspondent THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) started distributing vote  counting machines (VCM) to several municipalities in Misamis Oriental and in the the city yesterday. Acting City Comelec Director Dexter Nagtalon said after all the VCM units to different polling places are received, they would conduct a dry run together with the assigned Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) throughout on Saturday. “BEIs assigned to respective polling centers will also station themselves starting Saturday until Monday during the voting and counting ballots. Hangyoon nato ang (local government unit) nga maoy motabang sa pagpanghatud sa VCMs to hinterland barangays,” Nagtalon said. He said the city treasurer, who acts as the city election officer, has already received all election paraphernalia, including the sample ballots to be used for the final testing. Comelec national office allocated at least 10 sample ballots for each VCM and would be used during the final testing. “We made arrangement with the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office and the Police Regional Office that every vehicle used in the delivery is escorted by a number of police officers,” he said. Nagtalon said during the command conference with Comelec officials, Air Force will conduct an aerial reconnaissance patrol over hinterland barangays before the VCM will be delivered. “Pinaagi sa joint security plan mao kana ang ilang himoon before nato i-transport ang VCM to hinterland barangays like Besigan and Tignapoloan,” he said. He said they also informed all political parties to send representatives during the transport of the VCM and other election paraphernalia. “They must send a watcher or regular member of the party nga maoy motabang og bantay para wala diskumpyado,” he said. Meanwhile, police regional director Chief Supt. Jose Gentiles reiterated that all their personnel would remain apolitical, and they have taken their oath of non-partisanship during a ceremony at Camp Alagar, this city. “Let us assure our countrymen that the sanctity of the ballot will be upheld. Let us remain steadily non-partisan... Our duty is to keep the peace during the entire election period,” said Gentiles.