Robredo leads VP race on day 1 of Congress canvassing

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Leni Robredo is leading the vice presidential race at the close of the first day of Congress’ canvassing of votes for the recently concluded presidential and vice presidential elections.

As of Wednesday evening, Robredo garnered 3,576,643 votes, ahead by 295,492 votes over her closest rival Bongbong Marcos, who got 3,281,151.

The results covered 45 certificates of canvass, or 10,208,514 votes counted. Opening of three COCs from Laguna, Ilocos Sur, and Davao del Norte was suspended, while 117 COCs have yet to be opened.

Presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte was leading the presidential race with 4,051,036, followed by Sen. Grace Poe (2,439,181) Mar Roxas (2,209,848), Vice President Jejomar Binay (1,276,388), and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago (458,768).

Marcos was followed by Sen. Francis Escudero with 1,491,267, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano with 1,457,495, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV with 205,952, and Sen. Gringo Honasan with 196,006.

Citing a tight vice presidential race, Marcos’ camp earlier sought for a separate canvassing of votes for president and vice president.

Marcos’ camp alleged that massive vote-buying and the change in script in the transparency server increased the votes for administration candidate Leni Robredo. 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.

Congress will resume its canvassing 2 p.m. Thursday.