Zero votes for Bongbong in some areas possible, says lawyer

MANILA, Philippines —  Defending his client Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo, election lawyer Romeo Macalintal said the camp of rival vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is not aware that obtaining not a single vote in some areas is possible.

In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, Macalintal said Marcos's complaint of cheating is baseless, as votes in some areas and precincts can also go to a single candidate.

"In the past elections maraming ganyan, sa isang presinto nakaka-zero may mga zero votes na nakukuha 'yung mga kandidato, especially mga areas na talagang controled nila. Saka 'yung [one] hundred-percent voting, may mga areas din talagang gano'n," Macalintal said.

Macalintal also said "dagdag-bawas" or cheating by adding the number of votes is not possible in automated elections.

He said that tampering the number of results is difficult to do since the transmission of results is faster.

Some forms of cheating, however, cannot be prevented. Macalintal said vote buying or the threatening of voters through violence and intimidation still occurs.

"Iyan ang ‘di nawawala whether it is a manual or automated laging may mga ganyang problema," the election lawyer said.

Macalintal said said automation is better than manual counting of votes since votes are counted by a machine, and the possibility of error or cheating is greatly reduced.

"Actually, natutuwa nga ako at automated na tayo mas nakakatakot noong manual talagang bantay na bantay iyon. Dito (automated elections), magaan lang ang trabaho ng lawyers kasi you just have to wait for the transmitted results," he said.

He also said he is also not bothered with the delay in the official tallies since the Commission on Elections needs the time to address issues and complaints. — Video by Efigenio Toledo IV