MANILA, Philippines — Around 400 people assembled near the main office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros on Tuesday as the canvassing of votes was ongoing, the Manila Police District (MPD) reported.
Members of groups Gabriela, Selda, Piston, Kabataan Paryt-list, Anakpawis, and Kilusang Mayo Uno converged to protest the alleged unpreparedness of Comelec in the conduct of this year’s national and local elections and demand clean and honest polls.
Around 400 people stage a protest near the main office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila, on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Demonstrators are demanding clean and honest elections and hit Comelec for being allegedly unprepared during the conduct of the 2022 polls. Photo from MPD-PIO
Among the leaders that were present in the assembly were Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes Jr., Kabataan Party-list national president Raoul Manuel, and Act-Teachers Representative France Castro.
Around 400 people stage a protest near the main office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila, on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Demonstrators are demanding clean and honest elections and hit Comelec for being allegedly unprepared during the conduct of the 2022 polls. Photo from MPD-PIO
Frankie Pangilinan, daughter of vice presidential candidate Senator Francis Pangilinan also joined the protest.
“Sabi ng iba na we have to accept defeat daw na hindi raw tayo marunong matalo. I think that the truth is it’s not about just this election anymore. Because I think that the data shows clearly this election was bought a long, long time ago and that’s something we will not take sitting down,” Frankie said in an interview with AlterMidya.
'I am not going to have my president be named Ferdinand Marcos again.'
Kakie Pangilinan, child of VP aspirant Kiko Pangilinan, is part of the rally here in front of the Palacio del Gobernador. #Halalan2022 #VoteReportPH pic.twitter.com/IQ8eXazOLN
— AlterMidya (@altermidya) May 10, 2022
“I am not going to have my president be named Ferdinand Marcos again, ever,” she added.
The MPD said people started to gather at 9 a.m. and that their program ended more than an hour later. Police said the groups were then planning to proceed to Liwasan Bonifacio.
Around 400 people stage a protest near the main office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila, on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Demonstrators are demanding clean and honest elections and hit Comelec for being allegedly unprepared during the conduct of the 2022 polls. Photo from MPD-PIO
Based on the partial and unofficial count of votes, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was leading the presidential race followed by Vice President Leni Robredo.