THE camp of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday claimed a new computer command was put in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) transparency server that cut down the senator’s lead over administration candidate Leni Robredo – but came up empty to substantiate its claim.
“We received unsettling information that at past 7:30 p.m. on May 9, 2016 Election Day, a new script or computer command was introduced to the transparency server – the very same server from which the PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) obtains its data for the quick count,” lawyer Francesca Huang said during a press conference at Marcos’ headquarters in Mandaluyong.
Huang said the new script supposedly increased Robredo’s votes, which put her ahead of Marcos.
She said the execution of the command code “was able to alter the hash codes of the packet data.”
The installation of this “new script” is “suspect” because “it was after this time that Senator Marcos’ lead from Representative Robredo started to erode at a rather distinctive pattern,” Huang said.
Huang said Marcos’ camp sent a letter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson Andy Bautista asking for an explanation about the new script.
“Did Comelec know about the introduction of this new script? How does the new script affect the data and data reception of the transparency server? The public deserves to find out,” Huang said.
When asked to elaborate how this new script affected the partial count, Huang said Marcos’ camp has just received the information from a poll watcher but has yet to substantiate its effect.
“That is why we’re seeking a clarification, because we would like to see the exact impact of the same. But so far, all we’ve been able to see was that it has some sort of impact, but as to what type, we’re still clarifying the same,” Huang said.
She said this was the reason the camp has asked the Comelec to explain the new computer command.
“The information came into our attention from an accredited observer at the PPCRV. It appears that the execution of the command altered the hash code and it appears it is after this time Sen. Marcos’ lead over Robredo eroded,” Huang said.
“We’re still gathering today on the exact effect of this new script… We would like Comelec to provide some information and clarification on these matters,” Huang added.
She said Marcos’ camp is questioning the 200,000 lead of Robredo over Marcos on the third day of the unofficial count of 95.54 percent of the total 92,509 clustered precincts.
Huang said according to their own tally of 52.38 percent of the certificates of canvass, Marcos is leading over Robredo by 189,529 votes as of 4:15 p.m. on May 11.
The votes came from Regions I, II, III, and IV-B, but do not include the Bicol region, where Robredo is said to be strong.
The Marcos’ camp called for a press conference initially set for 10 a.m., but moved it to 1 p.m. because the legal team was preparing data for their presentation.
During the press conference that finally happened at 4.p.m., the Marcos camp said it has yet to gather more evidence to substantiate its claim about the effect of the new computer command.
READ: Robredo maintains 200K lead over Marcos on day 3 of unofficial tally
Marcos had also decried massive cheating by the Liberal Party, supposedly the administration’s “Plan B’ to rig the elections to make Robredo win and then have unofficial count frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte impeached so that the Liberal can regain control again of Malacañang.
READ: Marcos on Robredo lead: ‘Plan B’ in full swing
Robredo said it was unfair for Marcos to accuse her of cheating without substantiating it.
“Napaka-unfair na masabing nandadaya na hindi mo naman sinasubstantiate (It’s so unfair to accuse someone of cheating without substantiating your claim),” Robredo said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
READ: Robredo dares critics: Prove accusations of LP poll cheating