‘Fake news’: Comelec exec denies starting of overseas vote counting

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia denied on Wednesday that vote counting overseas has commenced.

Overseas voting started on April 10 and will end on May 9, the election day in the Philippines.

READ: Overseas voting for May 9 polls off to a bad start

“Wala pong binibilang na boto. Hindi po totoo ‘yung mga kumakalat. Fake news po ‘yun na everyday daw po binibilang ang boto, hindi po tayo ganu’n,” Garcia said on TeleRadyo’s On the Spot.

(Votes are not being counted. Rumors spreading are not true. Information that votes are counted every day is fake news.)

READ: We will not allow terrorism in May 9 polls – Duterte

The commissioner said that vote counting will happen simultaneously in the country and overseas on May 9.

“Ang pagbilang po ng boto ay lahat mangyayari sa Mayo 9 lang. Sabay-sabay po ‘yan sa buong mundo kahit dito sa ating bansa, sa gabi. Sabay-sabay pong bibilangin ang mga boto natin,” Garcia explained.

(The counting of votes will happen on May 9. It will happen at the same time overseas and here in our country, at night. Votes will be counted at the same time.)

Around 1.6 million Filipinos are registered for overseas absentee voting. They may vote for president, vice president, 12 senators, and a party-list group.

READ: 1.7 milion OFWs can vote starting April 10

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