Binay alleges cheating during 2016 presidential elections

Former vice president Jejomar Binay believes he should have placed at least second in the 2016 presidential race, alleging poll cheating from two years ago as he prepares to gun for a congressional seat in 2019.

"Ang number one [na] dahilan kung bakit ako natalo ay yung cheating sa eleksyon," Binay said at the regular Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum on Wednesday.

It was then-Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte who emerged the victor in the 2016 presidential elections. Binay placed fourth, after Liberal Party bet Mar Roxas and Senator Grace Poe.

"Ako talaga, at the worst, [I should have been] number two," he said.

GMA News Online is still trying to reach the Comelec for comment.

Binay said he no longer filed an election protest for "practical reasons," including the costs of suit and the uncertainty of winning.

Binay had alleged as early as several months before the 2016 polls that Roxas was planning to cheat in the elections, an accusation that the former Interior secretary laughed off.

Binay will pursue a candidacy for Makati City First District Representative in the 2019 polls, while his children, incumbent mayor Abby and former mayor Jejomar, Jr., will battle for the mayor's post.

Earlier this year, Binay's daughter, Senator Nancy Binay, had likewise said irregularities had hounded the 2016 presidential elections, with defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas allegedly benefitting from it.

Roxas had denied the claim. “Hindi ako nandaya, at hindi ako mandaraya. Alam ko kung gano kasakit ang nadaya dahil mga dalawang milyong boto ang nawala sa akin nung 2010 elections," Roxas had said. — MDM, GMA News