Poll exec: No reason to stop quick count of votes

According to Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, they have not even received a formal request from the camp of Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who is at a close second in the vice presidential race.

"He has not written us. His lawyers have not filed anything. I think they're just saying this to the media. There is no petition for us to act on," Guanzon said at a press conference. 

In a separate interview beforehand, Guanzon pointed out, "Sa ngayon, wala akong nakikitang dahilan [para i-stop], unless 'yung abogado ni Sen. Marcos, meron siyang makikita."

In an earlier statement, Marcos' camp called on the Comelec and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) to terminate the ongoing partial counting of votes, saying it is "alarming and suspicious."

The senator also alleged that results in his bailiwick Ilocos region are being withheld to make it appear that his opponent, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, is already in the lead.

In response, the PPCRV said they will not stop the quick count, saying that is up to the Comelec. 

Guanzon, in turn, said: "PPCRV po 'yun, that is not our [count]."

'Allowed by law'

At the same time, Guanzon maintained that the quick count is allowed under R.A. No. 9369, or the Automated Election System Law.

"The quick count is allowed. Even when canvassing is going on, there is no prohibition. Perhaps if he can give us some evidence of bad faith or fraud, then maybe the en banc can consider that," she said at the press conference. 

She added: "It is provided in the law for transparency in the elections. People have the right to public information and it's always best to have transparent elections, so there is no doubt about the credibility of the elections."

Recount request 'early'

Guanzon also pointed out that the demand for a recount is made too early as it may only be done after the proclamation. The protest, she added, has to be made before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

"I don't think we can recount now. We have to wait to be proclaimed—for the candidate to be proclaimed—and within 10 days, the losing candidate can file a protest," she said.

Guanzon pointed out that the race between Marcos and Robredo has indeed shaped up as a tight race, but there are still votes uncanvassed that will determine the winner.

"There are still 250,000 votes from overseas [voting] that are not canvassed and I heard that the trend there abroad is favoring some candidates. Maguindanao has not yet transmitted. And you may have special elections for 20,000 [voters]," she said.

She added: "It's a tight race, so I can understand why Sen. Marcos is really on his toes."

Asked to comment on Marcos' cheating allegations, Guanzon replied, "I don't think he's saying he's being cheated... He's just saying that this quick count should stop because this quick count is trending against him." — RSJ, GMA News