THE camp of incumbent Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia is now investigating reports on a group of men who allegedly brought fake vote counting machines (VCMs) in one of the barangays in the city.These VCMs, which are also reported as computers, allegedly have the capacity to alter the poll results.Leonardia, in an interview after he cast his vote at Education and Training Center School (ETCS) III in the city’s Barangay 14 Monday, May 9, said he already coordinated with the barangay captain, whom he refused to be named, to check the report he received on Sunday evening, May 8.The mayor also advised the barangay official to call the police if needed.“We have no strong evidence as of yet, but we should not take things lightly,” he said.He added that this election is everybody’s business and the integrity, dignity and soul of the people of Bacolod are at stake.”Our future is at stake here,” the mayor stressed.Leonardia noted that the entire Grupo Progreso (GP), a local coalition he leads, is alarmed as talks about the alleged fake VCMs surfaced including the specific place where they will be operated.“We have to take care and be careful of what we do during elections, especially during the counting,” Leonardia said, adding that “the tip came from someone who is not a joker and is respected in the community. Because of this, we are taking it with some seriousness but, at the same time, we are not concluding things.”For his part, acting Bacolod City Election Officer Revo Sorbito said their office had not received any reports pertaining to the alleged transportation of paraphernalia that can alter poll results in the city.If there is such kind of report, he said, it should be also relayed to his office.“The question is for what purpose? For the report that it can alter the result of the elections, well it will not happen here. I also believe that Mayor Bing released the statement based on the information relayed to him which of course as a candidate he will not take that information lightly,” he added.The election officer advised the public not to believe on it immediately because “it is still a hearsay since we don’t have a specific evidence yet.”