Marcos on Robredo lead: ‘Plan B’ in full swing

Vice Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos in Manila Polo Club together with son Ferdinand Araneta Marcos and Mother Imelda Marcos. Also with him is campaign partner Martin Romuladez for senator.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JILSON SECKLER TIU

Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said that his closest rival, Camarines Sur Rep. Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, is leading the vice presidential race in the unofficial vote count because the administration’s “Plan B” is being carried out.

“Talagang yung napapag-usapan na ‘Plan B’ ay mukhang talagang itinutuloy nila dahil iniiipit ang pag-transmit ng ibang mga boto na galing sa balwarte ko parang pinapalabas na nangunguna si (Camarines Sur) Cong. (Leni) Robredo,” Marcos was quoted as saying.

(It seems like they are pushing through with their “Plan B” because they are blocking some votes from my bailiwick to show that Cong. Robredo is leading.)

The senator earlier accused the administration of creating a plan that would make Robredo appear to be leading in surveys to justify her win. If she is elected vice president, impeachment proceedings will be carried out against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is poised to become the country’s next President. If Robredo replaces Duterte, the Liberal Party will regain control of the government.
READ: Marcos warns of admin’s ‘Plan B’ on poll cheating

Marcos said this alleged plan of the Liberal Party was leaked to him by an insider of the government camp. This was allegedly planned as administration standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II was not seen to win the presidency. He also conceded defeat to Duterte on Tuesday.

Robredo is ahead by about 200,000 votes in the partial and unofficial vote count as of 4:29 p.m Tuesday.

Marcos said that many of the results from his bailiwicks in the “Solid North” have not been reflected in the unofficial quick count of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).
READ: Marcos camp asks Comelec, PPCRV to stop unofficial count

“Yung tinutukoy ko talaga ay yung mga galing sa Norte, yung mga malalaki. Meron pang mga boto galing sa Isabela, galing sa Pangasinan, galing sa ibang bahagi ng Norte at hanggang ngayon hindi pa nabibilang,” Marcos said.

(I am referring to votes from the north, which are large. There are still votes from Isabela, Pangasinan and other parts of the north which have not been counted yet.)

The senator also said that some of the results have not yet been transmitted because of protests at the local level but for the others, he saw no reason why their transmission should be stopped.

“Iba iba ang mga dahilan, me protesta doon sa lugar, kung minsan wala namang dahilan pero basta’t hindi inilalagay doon sa bilang ng PPCRV. Kaya’t nagtataka nga kami kung bakit iniipit-ipit,” he said.

(There are different reasons such as protests at the local level. Sometimes, there are no reasons but the votes are not reflected at PPCRV. That’s why we are wondering why they are blocking [the votes].)

“Kaya eto na nga ang Plan B, mula doon sa survey hanggang ngayon dito sa pag-report ng mga boto sa ibat’-ibang lugar na hindi lumalabas,” he added.

(This is their Plan B, from the survey until the reporting of votes from different areas which are not reflected.)

Marcos said this could be the reason why his one million vote-lead started to go down before 12 a.m. Tuesday until he was supposedly overtaken by Robredo.

“Hanggang mga ala-una ng umaga ay nawala yung isang milyon na boto na lamang at naunahan na tayo. E basta’t pinipilit nilang gawin na mauna si Robredo sa akin. Ang sistemang ginagawa nila ay iniipit yung boto ko para hindi lumabas sa PPCRV tapos yung boto ni Robredo inuuna na,” he said.

(Until 1 a.m., my one million vote-lead disappeared and I was overtaken. They see to it that Robredo overtakes me. They block my votes so it won’t be reflected at PPCRV while votes for Robredo are transmitted.)

Despite this, the senator remained confident of winning: “Kasi pag pinagsama-sama mo yung mga botong hindi pa tina-transmit ay malayo na ang panalo ko kaya’t siguro trending na naman itong ating nakikita,” he said.

(If you collate all the votes that are not yet transmitted, I have a wide lead, that’s why we are only seeing a trending.)

Marcos said he will continue to gather more evidence in preparation for the filing of a case. RAM/rga