Robredo camp dares Marcos: Show proof of poll fraud

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo challenged Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday to present evidence showing that certificates of canvass are not authentic.

In a televised press conference, Robredo's legal counsel Romulo Macalintal urged Marcos to show at least one election return that does not tally with any of the returns transmitted to the transparency server of the Commission on Elections.

"Magpakita ka lang ng isang return, just one election return... That's a way to contest an election return. Hindi po pwede 'yung sasabihin na may dayaan, may vote buying," Macalintal said.

Macalintal said that they are confident that Robredo will win the vice presidential race based on the copies of all certificates of canvass and election returns that they have.

"We are very confident that at the end of the day, at the completion of the canvass, it is our candidate who will be proclaimed as the duly elected vice president of the country because we have seen the documents, our copies of the documents," Robredo's co-counsel and senator-elect Leila de Lima said.

De Lima added that their camp does not see legitimate grounds to seek for any deferment of canvass, as well as the proclamation of Robredo as vice president-elect.

The senator-elect noted that the joint canvassing committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives has the duty to guard the canvassing from unreasonable delay.

"Some preliminary legal issues or matters will be raised including the move to segregate the canvassing of the vice presidential and presidential votes to which we are going to vehemently object," De Lima said.

De Lima stressed that there would be proper a explanation for any defect that will be seen in any certificate of canvass.

The Senate and the House will convene on Wednesday afternoon as the National Board of Canvassers for the official canvassing of votes for president and vice president.