Day 2: Bongbong overtakes Robredo

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos overtook Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo of the Liberal Party (LP) by 83,480 votes on the second day of Congress’ canvassing of votes in the closely contested vice presidential race.

As of 10 p.m., Marcos had obtained 13,214,810 votes while Robredo got 13,131,330 votes from 118 certificates of canvass (COCs).

On the first day of canvassing on Wednesday, Robredo was leading the count by some 250,000 votes.        

Marcos’ lead came after COCs from Ilocos Norte, La Union, his bailiwicks from Region 1, were canvassed.

Only 71 COCs, including those from overseas absentee voting posts, remain to be canvassed in Congress.

The Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday convened as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), which formed the joint canvassing committee composed of eight members and five alternates each from the two chambers

The canvassing of votes for vice president is being closely watched as the unofficial tally of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) a few days after the May 9 elections based on the transparency server of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed Robredo leading by over 200,000 votes.

Marcos claimed fraud, particularly when the automated election technology provider changed the computer script to correct a minor error.

Robredo countered that even if she would receive zero votes from the remaining precincts that were not counted by the PPCRV, she would still win by some 25,000 votes over her rival.

Canvassing was marked by numerous manifestations from Marcos’ lawyers led by former Maguindanao representative Didagen Dilangalen citing various discrepancies, inconsistencies as well as “under voting” based on the COCs opened by the joint canvassing committee.

“Under voting” meant the total votes cast for vice president were less than those for president. The under voting was at 861,811 votes.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, counsel for Robredo, said there was nothing unusual with the under voting as many voters did not vote for any vice presidential candidate.

At least three COCs, including those from Antique and Kuwait, were deferred upon the objections of Marcos’ lawyers.

The COC from Kuwait is reportedly stuck at the Bureau of Customs. It was expected to be delivered to the House last night.

Dilangalen also questioned discrepancies in the COC from Pampanga, where some 56,000 votes have not been accounted for.

Bongbong insists on audit

The camp of Marcos vowed to pursue legal action for a system audit of the Comelec transparency and central server after the poll body turned down their request for an audit. 

Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz, campaign consultant of Marcos, said the integrity of the whole 2016 election is on the line and they do not want unresolved questions to linger after proclamation.

“It is very unfortunate that the Comelec has decided to defer action on the request of Sen. Marcos for a systems audit of the transparency and central servers until after the canvassing is concluded,” De la Cruz said in a statement.

“We could not understand how the system audit could affect the official canvass because all election returns have been transmitted and all COCs have been printed out for canvass.”

De la Cruz insisted that the vulnerability of the system is shown in the electronically generated COCs in the vice presidential race in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Laguna, Ilocos Sur and Cebu City.

“It is our position that whoever will be proclaimed vice president by the NBOC deserves a clear and unequivocal mandate once he assumes the position,” he said.

“We cannot allow all doubts to linger on our new vice president which would diminish the stature of his office,” De la Cruz added.

Presidential race

Meanwhile, administration standard-bearer Mar Roxas narrowly beat Sen. Grace Poe in Albay despite being junked in the homestretch of the election campaign by outgoing Gov. Joey Salceda.

Salceda, who belonged to the ruling Liberal Party, switched support to Poe just days before the May 9 elections.

When Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte emerged as the clear winner, Salceda joined the camp of Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, the incoming president’s choice for speaker of the House of Representatives.

Roxas defeated Poe in Albay by exactly 200 votes. He received 221,778 votes against the senator’s 221,578.

In third place was Duterte with 80,361 votes, followed by Vice President Jejomar Binay with 63,144.

Based on the official congressional tally of 45 COCs, Duterte won in 20 cities and provinces.

These are Davao del Sur, San Juan, Pasay City, Valenzuela City, Cebu City, Malabon, Navotas, Lapu-Lapu City, Biliran, Baguio City, Batangas, Pasig, Taguig-Pateros, Las Piñas, North Cotabato, Manila, Rizal, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa and Iligan.

Aside from Albay, Guimaras, Siquijor, Bacolod City, Camiguin, Romblon, Tarlac, Batanes, Dinagat Island and Misamis Occidental also voted for Roxas. – With Perseus Echeminada, Jess Diaz