by Desaraie Potot

As reported cases on malfunctioning VCMs and election-related violence emerged, a poll watchdog stated on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 that the voters are permitted to file charges against the Commission of Elections (ComElec) due to these damages. 

Around 8:17 A.M. today, partial, unofficial results from the ComElec Transparency Media server showed that Candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was still leading the presidential race with 31, 103, 670 votes and running mate Sara Duterte-Carpio also leading the vice presidential poll at 31, 560, 847 votes.

Duterte-Carpo also expressed gratitude to Marcos for assigning her to lead the Department of Education (DepEd) stating that they ultimately decided on DepEd Secretary as “the Uniteam wants a stable Philippines and the most harmonious administration possible.” 

Outgoing Education Secretary Leonor Briones also welcomed the announcement and declared that DepEd will be “in good hands” once the presumptive vice president heads the agency. 

President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘Talk to the People’

In a pre-recorded public address, President Duterte mentioned that there is a “sense of hope and optimism” for future elected officials. 

He also addressed issues on defective VCMs during the election day and stated that he did not observe any irregularities, but urged the ComElec to investigate these reports. 

Moreover, he recommended to his successor the abolition of the party-list system in the country.  “Dapat umpisahan na sa bagong administrasyon,” he declared.

Meanwhile, President Duterte’s former spokesperson Ernesto Abella conceded in the presidential race and acknowledged Marcos’s win. 

PPCRV starts manual audit of election returns

Around 9 A.M today, PPCRV Chairperson Myla Villanueva stated in a CNN live interview that 22% of election returns have already been received from Metro Manila, Luzon. 

As these are brought to them physically, PPCRV expects to receive election returns from Visayas and Mindanao later today or tomorrow, May 13, 2022. 

The validation of election returns is also expected to be finished this weekend, PPCRV mentioned. 

Transition of Power to the Next Administration

With Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as chairperson and four other Cabinet members, the formation of the Presidential Transition Committee, an internal transition committee, was made to oversee an orderly transition of power to the next administration. 

President Duterte also issued Administrative Order No. 47, which regards the smooth handover of government business and power to the next duly-elected president of the republic. 

Outcome of the Elections and the Current Poll Standing

Around 10 A.M. today, PLM-BMP-Sanlakas held an online press conference about the recent outcomes of the elections and the breakdown of VCMs. 

Present in the conference were Senatorial candidate Atty. Luke Espiritu, Vice Presidential candidate Walden Bello, and Presidential candidate Ka Leody De Guzman. 

Progressive groups also headed to Liwasang Bonifacio to protest the partial, unofficial results from the ComElec Transparency media server and the “unclean elections” that transpired. 

In line with this, members of the AFP and PNP were stationed at the EDSA Shrine and EDSA People Power Monument to guard possible protest action as the country’s police force stated that it would “exercise maximum restraint and tolerance” on groups that staged rallies.

At around 2 P.M. today, Rappler announced that Presidential candidate VP Leni Robredo allegedly received no votes in about 595 precincts according to the unofficial results, while frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received none in 75 precincts. 

By 4 P.M., ComElec, sitting as the NBOC, stated that the proclamation of winning senators may take place ahead of party-lists early next week. 

PPCRV then held a press briefing around 5 P.M. as the start of the matching of digital results and manual audited election returns (ERs) are expected by today, May 12.

By 6 P.M., PPCRV’s Van dela Cruz stated that the first batch (15.6%) of manually audited physical ERs had no mismatches with the electronically-transmitted results. 

The ComElec NBOC also released the latest partial, official results for the senatorial race showing Robin Padilla leading with 13, 231, 228 votes, while Legarda and Tulfo held the second and third ranks, respectively. 

Congratulatory messages for Presumptive President Marcos Jr.

US President Joe Biden spoke with Presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. early today, following his lead in the national elections, stating that he looks forward to working with the president-elect to strengthen the alliance between both countries. 

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian also paid a courtesy visit and handed a congratulatory note written by Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

ComElec junks appeal against the presidential bid of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

One of the two remaining appeals against Marcos Jr. declaring him a nuisance candidate was junked by ComElec on the grounds that the petitioner was unable to give new convincing matters. 

As the seventh appeal junked by the ComElec en banc, the remaining case filed by Pudno nga Ilokano will be the last motion for reconsideration handled by ComElec. 

Should that be dismissed, all DQ cases are expected to reach the Supreme Court. 

Irregularities and Election-Related Violence 

In a midday press briefing, Spokesman Rex Laudiangco addressed the viral video of policemen tearing ballots, reiterating that the seen ballots were unused and such process was a standard operating procedure once polls close. 

Additionally, Laudiangco stated that vote-buying complaints can be filed in city and provincial prosecutor’s offices and not solely in ComElec. 

The Commission on Human Rights, however, called on ComElec to explain these incidents as they expressed concern on the reported cases of election-related violence and the irregularities that disenfranchised many voters.