Senators and running mates Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER PHOTOS
Malacañang on Wednesday responded to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago who hit the government for allegedly “manufacturing” numbers against her running mate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., one of the front-runners in the vice presidential race.
“The allegation is untrue and unfounded. Comelec is fully responsible for overseeing the automated elections system and the executive branch has no part in this process,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.
Santiago, who got the least number of votes among presidential candidates, earlier released a statement calling the Aquino administration an “authoritarian government.”
“The roller coaster ride of vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. invites comparison with a garrison state. In such a state, the authoritarian government feels free to manufacture numbers as they are needed,” Santiago said.
Marcos initially led the unofficial count of votes but administration candidate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo overtook him several hours after the precincts closed on Monday.
As of 2:42 p.m., Robredo is ahead with 231,728 votes based on the Commission on Elections Transparency Server.