Robredo fears a repeat of 1986 cheating during vote canvassing

Amid the claim of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that he will win the vice presidential race, leading VP contender and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo on Wednesday expressed fears of a repeat of the alleged cheating in the 1986 snap elections.

In an interview with reporters in Naga City, Robredo spoke against Marcos' supposed “mind-conditioning” technique, saying she wonders why the Marcos camp is claiming a lead of more than 100,000 votes based on their internal tally of certificates of canvass (COCs).

“Sa akin lang ano, sana wala silang binabalak na pandaraya na gagawin sa canvassing. Kasi yung winoworry ko ngayon, klaro naman yung numero pero parang mina-mind condition nila,” Robredo said.

“Kasi alam naman natin na may history na ganun. Hindi natin makakalimutan yung nangyari nung 1986 na siguro kung hindi nag walk out yung mga tabulators baka nadaya nga tayo,” she added.

Robredo was referring to the so-called "Comelec 35" or 35 computer programmers and technicians who walked out during the tabulation of the snap elections between Marcos’ father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, and the late President Corazon Aquino.

The protest was one of the events that triggered the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution that ousted the late strongman and installed Aquino as president.

Data from the transparency server of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as of Wednesday morning showed that the congresswoman is still leading with 14,023,093 votes, or 219,127 votes ahead of Marcos’ 13,803,966 votes.

Congress will resume session on May 23 and will convene as the National Board of Canvassers on May 25. The NBOC is mandated to proclaim the new president and vice president.

Robredo, a candidate of the ruling Liberal Party, also said she is open to a system audit sought by the Marcos camp to if only to quash speculations of election fraud.

“Sang ayon ako na may system audit para maalis yung lahat ng duda tungkol sa integridad ng proseso ng eleksyon,” Robredo said.

“‘Yung hindi okay sa akin yung nagpaparatang na nandaya na wala namang basehan,” she added.

But Robredo's election lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, said Marcos' move seems to be an attempt of using the Comelec to develop his case.

"Parang sinasabi ni Marcos sa kasong ito, 'Comelec, bigyan mo nga ako ng ebidensya.' Comelec will never develop a case. Marcos must present his own evidence. He must rely on the strength of his evidence and not based on speculations or baseless accusations," he told reporters at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

To prove cheating allegations, Macalintal advised Marcos to check if there is discrepancy between the election return received by his camp and poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

"Para mapatunayan nila na may pandaraya, ihambing nila. E kung wala sila pinapakita at puro speculation lang na sinasabi bumababa ang kanilang boto. Hndi iyon ebidensya ang tunay na ebidenya ay kung ang kanilang authentic copy does not tally with the PPCRV," Macalintal said. — with Virgil Lopez/VVP/RSJ, GMA News