Marcos urges public to vote, protect decision on May 9

FILE PHOTO: Former senator and son of late dictator, Bongbong Marcos. INQUIRER

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo — Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos was urging the public to exercise their right to vote on May 9 and “protect” their decision in this year’s polls.

In a video posted on his Facebook page late Tuesday night, Marcos said the public should participate in the upcoming elections.

“Kailangan nating makiisa sa halalan. Ito’y sagrado nating pananagutan sa ating bayan sapagkat isang mahalagang sangkap ito ng proseso ng ating paghuhusga, kung sino ang mamumuno pagkaraan ng pilian,” he said.

(We need to participate in the elections. This is a sacred responsibility to our country because this is an important ingredient in the process of choosing our leaders.)

“Sa darating na Mayo a-nueve ay kailangan din po tayong maging mapagbantay sa ating mga boto. Protektahan po natin ang ating naging desisyon at ‘wag po nating hayaang ito’y muling nakawin sa atin,” he added.

(On May 9, we need to guard our votes, We need to protect our decision and we should not allow it to be stolen from us.)

Marcos did not elaborate further on his call for the protection of votes, but it should be recalled that he lodged a protest against Vice President Leni Robredo believing that he was cheated in the 2016 vice presidential race.

But the Supreme Court, convened as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), unanimously voted to dismiss the election protest of Marcos against Robredo “for lack of merit.”

READ: PET dismisses Marcos poll protest vs Robredo, stresses ‘entire’ case junked

Robredo’s lead even grew further after the recount of votes cast in provinces that were the subject of Marcos’ protest.

“Hangad ko na ako po’y maging karapat-dapat sa inyong pagtitiwala. Gayunman, kung iba ang inyong napupusuan ay hiling ko po rin sa inyo na sama-sama tayong pumunta sa ating mga presinto at bumoto,” Marcos further said in his video.

(I hope to be deserving of your trust. Nonetheless, if you are leaning towards another candidate, I still hope you would go to your precincts and vote.)

He again repeated his unity call in the video.

“Sa gitna ng krisis ay dapat nating harapin ang paghahanda para sa magandang bukas nang nagkakaisa,” Marcos said.

(In the middle of a crisis, we should be united as we prepare for a better tomorrow.)

“Talikuran na natin ang hindi pagkakaunawaan at ang pagkakahati-hati at tangkilikin na natin ang mapagkaisang lider na maghahatid sa atin ng mas maunlad na bukas,” he added.

(Let us leave behind misunderstandings and divisiveness and welcome a uniting leader who will bring progress to the country.)

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