Why Duterte Allies Are Asking For a Vote Recount
The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), or the political party of former President Rodrigo Duterte , is asking the Supreme Court to issue an order for a manual recount of the senatorial elections this past May, citing alleged irregularities during the tallying process.
PDP-Laban filed a motion before the Supreme Court claiming that the automated voting system used in the polls caused more than 17 million senatorial votes to be "excluded in the offcial taly as 'overvotes'.
"Whether such manual counting or recount be partial, targeted, or nationwide petitioners humbly leave the same to the sound discretion of his Honorable Court, with due regard to the extent of necessity, efficiency, and economy or cost- effectiveness in implementing the pertinent election laws," according to the six-page petition.
Megachurch leader and senatorial candidate Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is detained over sex trafficking crimes, also asked for a recount last month.
In its petition, PDP-Laban is claming that Republic Act No. 9369 or the Automated Election System and the Omnibus Election Code ensures a manual count of votes to safeguard the integry and crediblitiy of the elections.
No unusual activity
But the election watchdog National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections earlier said it did observe any unusual activity in the polls this year but took note of some irregularities that needed a closer look.
"Comelec (Commission on Elections) welcomes remedies like this to prove the real mandate of the electorate," Election Chairman George Erwin Garcia said in a statement commenting on PDP-Laban's lawsuit, adding that the election body would wait for the Supreme Court to act on the legal challenge.
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Former President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter, current Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, has also cried election fraud and claims that three of PDP-Laban's senatorial candidates were cheated out of spots in Congress.
Sara Duterte was the party's Vice Presidential bet in the 2022 elections when she beat opposition figure Kiko Pangilinan by a landslide.
The Vice President is expected to be a major player in the upcoming presidential election in 2028, but is currently facing an impeachment complaint before Congress. She has denied all accusations of budget anomalies and questions on how she amassed her "unusual" wealth.
Duterte claimed earlier in the month that candidates Jesus Hinlo, Jr., Jimmy Bondoc, and Richard Mata had been cheated, but did not elaborate on how it happened.
Among the PDP-Laban's bets this year, re-electionists Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and former SAGIP Party-list Represenative Rodante Marcoleta secured seats in the Upper Chamber.
Go topped the list of all candidates in the race with over 27 million votes, Dela Rosa placed third with 20.77 million votes, while Marcoleta was sixth with 15.25 million votes. At least six administration-endorsed candidates during the polls also nabbed Senate seats in the elections despite failing to attain an overwhelming majority.
Former President Duterte is currently detained in the Hague in the Netherlands as he faces trial before the International Criminal Court over his deadly drug war during his term. His son, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, is set to take over as acting head of the PDP-Laban after Senator Robin Padilla stepped down from the party to focus on his legislative duties.
Baste Duterte will assume the party's presidency based on the its constitution and rule of succession.
A big story out of elections was the success of returning opposition fixtures Senators Bam Aquino and Francis Kiko Pangilinan, who placed second and fifth respectively. This was even after they only did well enough for the tail end of the fabled "Magic 12" in previous election surveys.
