Robredo spox: We want clarity on issues, but we’re not questioning results at this point

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo’s spokesperson clarified on Thursday that while they are awaiting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) response on various issues during the recently-concluded polls, they are not questioning its outcome.

In an interview with OnePH’s Sa Totoo Lang, Gutierrez was asked about the partial and unofficial tally from the Comelec and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), which showed Robredo, who ran for president, losing big to former senator Bongbong Marcos.

“Well […] may mga lingering na mga katanungan tungkol doon sa proseso ng eleksyon, and we would very much like for Comelec to address itong mga bagay na ito,” Gutierrez said.

(Well there are lingering questions about the whole electoral process, and we would very much like for Comelec to address these things.)

“Hindi naman ibig sabihin na kinukuwestyon namin ‘yung resulta sa puntong ito, pero may mga katanungan tungkol doon sa mga nasirang mga VCM [vote counting machines], may mga katanungan tungkol sa pagkakaroon– actually hindi pa tapos ‘yung actual quick count, malayo pa tayo sa canvas at meron pang random manual audit na gagawin sa katapusan ng buwan,” he added.

(It does not mean that we are questioning the results at this point, but there are questions about the malfunctioning VCMs, about other issues — actually the actual quick count is not finished, we are still far from the canvassing and we still have a random manual audit that will be initiated by the end of the month.)

Gutierrez said they continue to monitor these steps, adding that there are poll experts who are studying the issues that occurred on election day — like numerous VCMs bogging down, SD memory cards being corrupted, and spates of violence and alleged vote buying.

“So, sinasabi lang naman namin, patuloy itong prosesong ito, patuloy naming susubaybayan. May mga ilang eksperto na katrabaho namin ngayon para pag-aralan ‘yung ibang mga issues that were brought to our attention na mga supporter at iba pang mga tao tungkol sa iba’t ibang aspeto ng eleksyon,” he said.

(So, what we are saying is that, we continue these processes, we continue to monitor these.  We are working with several experts now to study the different issues that were brought to our attention by the supporters and other individuals about the different aspects of the elections.)

“Pero sa dulo, kung anuman ang magiging resulta, anuman ang magiging pasya ng ating mga kababayan sa eleksyong ito, handang handa naman tayong tanggapin. Pero, hintayin natin,” he added.

(But in the end, whatever the result is, whatever the people’s decision is, we are very much ready to accept it.  But we will wait.)

Partial, unofficial results from Comelec’s transparency server as of Thursday night showed Marcos having 31.09 million votes — over double of Robredo’s 14.81 million votes.

The story is the same for their running mates with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in the lead over Senator Francis Pangilinan, 31.55 million votes to 9.230 million votes.

Robredo has yet to concede from the presidential race, but there were indications that she will accept the results of the polls.  In a Facebook live early Tuesday morning — hours after the elections and after initial and unofficial results were transmitted — Robredo said that they will listen to the people’s voice which is becoming clearer.

In a mass at her hometown Naga City last Tuesday, Robredo spoke again, saying that while they will check the issue, she is urging her supporters to accept the final results.

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