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As VP recount begins, Robredo tells supporters: Have no fear

April 2, 2018 | 3:50pm

As VP recount begins, Robredo tells supporters: Have no fear

The manual recount of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal to settle the electoral protest of former Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr (left) against Vice President Leni Robredo began on Monday and is expected to take months. The STAR/Edd Gumban

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday urged her supporters to remain steadfast as she expressed confidence that the manual recount by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal would reaffirm her victory in the contested 2016 vice presidential elections.

Speaking in a mass meant to ask for “strength, guidance and wisdom” as the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, began the process, Robredo told hundreds of her supporters that they should not be afraid or lose hope because the truth is on their side.

“We say that we’re lifting everything up to the Lord. There is nothing to be afraid of. There is nothing that can dampen our spirits,” Robredo said in Filipino.

“To all our supporters and our friends who are here today, this is also a message from our lawyers: We should not be afraid because the truth is on our side,” the vice president added.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the late Philippine strongman, included Robredo’s home province of Camarines Sur, and Iloilo and Negros Oriental in his electoral protest alleging irregularities during the 2016 vice presidential elections, which he lost to by more than 260,000 votes.

The PET on Monday started its manual recount of the votes from these provinces, and the process is expected to take months.

Marcos claims wet ballots, missing audit logs as recount begins

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/02/1802110/marcos-claims-wet-ballots-missing-audit-logs-recount-begins

As the process began, Marcos claimed irregularities in the ballots from a town in Camarines Sur, saying that these recently got wet.

He also alleged that 38 of the 42 precincts in the initial municipality had missing audit logs, which will show if there was a mass entry of votes.

Robredo lawyer Romulo Macalintal has denied these allegations and explained that there was a storm in Camarines Sur recently, which could explain the wet ballots.

If Marcos succeeds in his recount, this will mark a big step in his family's continuing effort to rehabilitate its name and reclaim the presidency, more than 32 years after his father was ousted from power by a military-backed popular revolt.

Robredo, who belongs to the opposition Liberal Party, called on her supporters not to waver and to continue fighting.

“We appreciate your steadfast support. I hope we will all continue. Let’s not give up,” she said.

Macalintal said that the manual recount would just underscore Robredo’s victory despite the allegations by Marcos.

“There is no way we can lose, and in two months’ time, we will know the result,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has hinted in past speeches that he prefers Marcos to be his vice president.

Duterte also gave his imprimatur for the burial of the late strongman at the heroes’ cemetery despite massive protests by opposition groups and victims of his 21-year rule.