Comelec to Marcos camp: Show proof first to stop unofficial tally

HIS OWN QUICK COUNT Bongbong Marcos shows the “quick count” action center set up in his campaign headquarters. NINO JESUS ORBETA

Show evidence first.

That was the challenge of an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday to the camp of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. when asked on her reaction on the request of the Marcos camp to suspend the unofficial vote count being conducted by the poll body and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

In an interview, Comelec commissioner Rowena Guanzon said that while the request of the Marcos camp is allowed under Republic Act 8436 or the Automated Election Law, she does not see any reason to suspend the unofficial tally—unless they could show proof of bad faith and inaccuracy.

“Sa ngayon, ako, wala akong nakikitang dahilan unless ‘yung abogado ni Sen. Marcos ay may ebidensiya siya ng inaccuracy or bad faith. Maaari naman po silang magpetition sa en banc,” Guanzon said.

READ: PPCRV: No stopping quick count despite Marcos plea 



The purpose of the unofficial count, Guanzon said, is to promote transparency in the electoral process.

“We have to be transparent to the people kung ano na ‘yung status na ng botohan (about the status of the voting). Kasi kung itatago naman po natin, marami naman po ang magdududa. Baka [sabihin], may magic (If we conceal it, then many would have doubts. They might say there’s “magic” involved),” she said.

She also said that the poll watchdogs, such as the PPCRV, are mandated to inform the public on the conduct of the elections.

“Yung mga independent observers, yung mga official na election vanguards like Namfrel and PPCRV, may karapatan rin naman po sila na to inform the public kung ano na ang status ng eleksyon,” she said.

(The independent observers, they are the official election vanguards like Namfrel and PPCRV, they also have the right to inform the public on the status of the elections.)

Comelec chairman Andres Bautista confirmed that the en banc has not yet received a formal complaint from the Marcos camp.

“We have not formally received any request,” Bautista told reporters in a separate interview.

The camp of the senator said that they are requesting for the suspension of the unofficial tally so as not to sow “confusion and conflict” with the official poll results.

“The unofficial count was designed not to be completed to avoid the possibility of confusion and conflict with the official one. There is no reason for this not to be the norm this time around,” Marcos’ campaign manager Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz said.

Marcos is currently neck and neck with vice presidential race front-runner Maria Leonor Robredo who is leading with more than 200,000 votes. CDG

READ: Robredo maintains 200K lead over Marcos on day 3 of unofficial tally