Rama files protest, seeks manual recount

MANILA, Philippines — More than a week after the conduct of the midterm polls, former Cebu City mayor and mayoral candidate Michael Rama filed an electoral protest before the Commission on Elections, calling for a manual recount of votes.

Right after filing the protest on Thursday, Rama contacted journalists to confirm his action.

He refused to disclose the details of his protest, saying he would hold a press conference after he returns to Cebu City next week.

Rama, who came in third in the mayoral race, said his move formalized what he initially said at a press conference last week, wherein he questioned the results and the credibility of the automated counting machines (ACM).

An update from One News said Rama’s election protest also includes a request to conduct a manual recount of votes.

A day after the elections, Rama held a press conference to announce his refusal to concede.

During the same press briefing, Rama said the fight is not yet over. He said he personally experienced glitches in the ACM.

He said he experienced an hour-long delay before he was able to cast his vote because of the glitches.

Rama lamented what he described as technical difficulties he encountered with the ACM, which he said may have influenced the result of the vote count.

He said he and his camp would get to the bottom of the issue, including holding a meeting with their national party, the PDP-Laban.

Rama congratulated his companions who won under the Partido Barug ticket, including reelected South District Rep. Edu Rama and Councilors Philip Zafra, Francis Esparis, Mikel Rama and Harry Eran. — The Freeman