Marcos camp insists on separate canvassing of President, VP votes

The camp of vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday reiterated their call for a separate canvassing of votes for the positions of president and vice president in the recently concluded elections. YUJI VINCENT GONZALES/INQUIRER.net

The camp of vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday reiterated their call for a separate canvassing of votes for the positions of president and vice president in the recently concluded elections.

As the Congress started its canvassing, former Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, one of the counsels representing Marcos, moved for a separate canvassing of votes for president and vice president, saying that it was not prohibited by the Constitution.

READ: Marcos camp loses bid for separate VP canvassing

Dilangalen cited a tight race in the vice presidency.

But Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, a member of the Senate canvassing panel, stopped him and said that canvassing will proceed on a per certificate of canvass (COC) basis.

Mandaluyong Rep. Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales II said Dilangalen has no right to raise such motion because he is not a member of the canvassing panel.

“This is not debatable… This is not the proper time to make the manifestation,” Gonzales said as he asked Dilangalen to take his seat from the podium.

Before the Congress approved the canvassing rules on Tuesday, Abakada Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz, who served as Marcos’ campaign adviser, also sought for separate canvassing but failed.

Dilangalen also asked the panel for the secret markings of the COCs to determine “authenticity.”

However, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, Robredo’s counsel, countered him, saying that the motion was “not proper.”

“The counsel should be limited by a manifestation if he is for the inclusion or inclusion of COC,” Macalintal said.

Marcos’ camp alleged that massive vote-buying and the change in script in the transparency server increased the votes for administration candidate Camarines Sur Rep. Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, who is leading the senator in unofficial count by a slim margin of 200,000 votes.

In a privilege speech at the Senate, the son and namesake of the late dictator asked for more time in the vice presidential canvassing amid unproven claims of electoral fraud. RAM

READ: Bongbong renews ‘strong reservations’ in VP count in speech