Sara Duterte to Comelec, Smartmatic: Ensure integrity of election results

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Monday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and poll technology provider Smartmatic to ensure the integrity of the election results as millions of Filipinos trooped to schools and other venues to cast their votes.

Speaking to reporters after casting her vote at a public school in Davao City, Duterte warned the Comelec and Smartmatic against any attempt to frustrate the will of the electorate in this year's midterm polls.

"People are allowed to choose kung sino 'yung gusto nila na botohan. That's why we remind also the Comelec and Smartmatic to be faithful sa mga choices ng mga tao. Huwag na nila pakialaman 'yung results ng botohan," she said.

Last Friday, Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte had put in place measures designed to determine if cheating has been committed in the polls, including filing of charges against those responsible.

“Any violator will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No one will be spared regardless of their political affiliation or station in life," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Duterte is the founder of regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago which coalesced with other local parties and backed the candidacies of 13 Senate hopefuls. Only 12 seats of the 24-member Senate are up for grabs.

The mayor said she voted 12 senatorial candidates from "memory." 

"Of course 12 lang binoto ko. May secrecy of the ballot," she said.

She sidestepped the question on whether the 2019 elections were a referendum on the administration of her father President Rodrigo Duterte, who continues to be popular on his third year in office despite under heavy criticism for his deadly war on drugs and embrace of China.

"I would not speculate on that but I would say this election will be the will of the majority of Filipinos," she said.

Preelection surveys indicated that majority of HNP's Senate bets were poised to pick up seats as the mayor underscored the need for the President to have more allies that will shepherd his legislative agenda in the upper chamber of Congress. 

"Noong nakaraang three years, nakita natin medyo nahihirapan si President Duterte sa pagtulak ng mga gusto niyang mangyari para sa ating bayan, especially 'yung mga campaign promises niya doon sa pagkuha ng suporta sa Senate," she said.

"That's why we really worked hard during this campaign para ma-present sa mga tao kung sino 'yung mga senators na nakakaintindi kung ano 'yung vision ng ating Presidente at hopefully, bobotohan nila," the mayor said. — RSJ, GMA News