Leni to Bongbong: Ask Iglesia ni Cristo about zero votes in some areas

Administration vice presidential bet Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo said the camp of her rival Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. should ask the members of Iglesia ni Cristo why its members failed to vote for him in areas where he received zero votes.

Marcos' camp has repeatedly expressed doubts on election results that showed he received zero votes, such as in an area in Basilan where the Iglesia ni Cristo has a chapel.

"Palagay ko ang dapat tanungin ay ang mga Iglesia na inaasahan nila na bumoto sa kanila, kasi kung titingnan natin ang mga lugar kung saan zero ako, o zero siya, mas marami ang mga lugar na zero ako," Robredo said.

"Hindi ako ang makakasagot sa mga lugar na zero siya na inaasahan niya na may bumoto sa kaniya. Palagay ko, ang dapat tanungin doon ay ang mga inaasahan niya na bumoto sa kaniya na hindi siya binoto," she added.

With close to two million members, the Iglesia ni Cristo is known to practice bloc voting during elections. It endorsed Marcos for vice president, which he said boosted his chances of winning the post.

However, partial results have shown Robredo with a slim lead against Marcos.

At the ongoing canvassing in Congress, his lawyer, George Garcia, claimed that there were around 3.2 million instances of undervotes in the vice presidential race, adding that Robredo's lead appeared to be "too big" in certain areas.

An undervote happens when someone opts not to select any candidate for a post, or in the case of positions with multiple seats, votes for less than the allowed number.

Garcia said that in the Ilocos region, considered as Marcos' bailiwick, around 14,000 instances of undervotes were observed, while 207,000 instances were seen in the Visayas and over 147,000 in Mindanao.

At this, Robredo said, "Hindi ako ang makakasagot nito. Pero kung titingnan natin lahat ng records, lahat ng papel, hindi lang naman sa vice president ang maraming undervotes."

The administration bet also brushed off criticisms made against her on social media.

"Wala naman tayong magagawa doon," she said. "Ang sa akin lang, ang lahat ng ebidensya nariyan naman. Mayroon silang karapatang ikwestyon kung may discrepancy ang records nila. Pero alam naman natin na wala silang maipakita na discrepancy."

She added: "Ang parehong kampo naman may karapatan na kung ang hawak nilang COCs (certificates of canvass) may discrepancy sa lumabas na report ng Comelec (Commission on Elections), puwede iyong ihain. Pero so far, wala pa naman silang naipapakita na discrepancy. Parang mas lalo lang nito nilalabas ang katotohanan na talagang walang basehan ang kanilang accusations." —Rose-Ann Jessica Dioquino/NB, GMA News