After casting his vote, Binay warns of massive cheating

Vice President Jejomar Binay (right) and son, dismissed mayor Junjun Binay, fill up their ballots at the San Antonio High School in Makati City. INQUIRER.NET

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday warned of “massive cheating” in the automated elections even as he expressed optimism that he will win the Presidency if no irregularities would occur in the 11-hour general elections.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, the United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer said he was concerned that cheating might mar the elections, making reference to a purported two-pronged plan to dislodge him from the presidential lead he has been confident to get.

“I hope that we’ll have clean elections. My concern is massive cheating, especially what they have done to me. The first of two phases have happenened; what’s left is the principal phase,” Binay said.

Asked what the two phases were, the official held back and said: “I will tell you next time.”

READ: Binay at polls early; keeps his vote secret

Binay’s camp had earlier cast suspicion on his slump in the last presidential surveys, where the former frontrunner slid to take fourth place out of five bets.

Despite his fears, Binay expressed optimism that he will win. He has even prepared his victory speech.

“Last night, I’ve prepared my victory speech because I think, like what you’ve seen during the campaign, I will really win,” Binay said in an interview in front of his house on Caong Street, Barangay San Antonio, Makati City.

With his son, dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay, the Vice President voted a little past 6 a.m. at Precinct 189 of San Antonio National High School, a short walk away from his house.

He was the fifth voter to cast his vote at the precinct.

While he lagged in the recent surveys, Binay’s camp believes he will pull off a come-from-behind victory again, similar to his win in 2010, his first attempt at a national post after 21 years as Makati City Mayor.

Binay received 14.6 million votes in the general elections 6 years, ago, winning in 61 provinces and cities. He won mostly in Luzon, losing only in Regions 6, 7 and 13. He even won overwhelmingly in the Davao region, getting 845,958 votes in the bailiwick of the current presidential race frontrunner, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. CDG