Sara Duterte on pre-shaded ballots: ‘I will never condone cheating’

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor  Sara Duterte-Carpio finds “disconcerting” the reports that there were pre-shaded ballots, including her name, in the absentee voting in Singapore and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The reports, she added, “are not to be taken lightly.”

“That my name was allegedly pre-shaded, along with some senatorial candidates, is grossly disconcerting. As a politician, my experience has taught me that Filipinos do not respect those who cheat and engage in election fraud,” Duterte-Carpio said in a statement.

“And I take with great pride in the fact that my history in politics has never been tainted by cheating, fraud, and other election irregularities that could question my integrity and leadership,” she added.

Duterte-Carpio went on: “I never have and will never condone cheating. I won my past elections because the people voted for me.”

According to her, the legal team of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the party under which she is running for vice president, will request the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct an investigation of the incidents.

“The same action is also to be requested from the Comelec for future similar reports and allegations — if any,” Duterte-Carpio said.

“Let me also take this opportunity to call on all Filipinos both in the Philippines and overseas to be vigilant against electoral fraud and ensure that your votes are protected,” she added.

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Comelec said its Task Force Against Fake News will investigate the alleged pre-shading of ballots overseas.