Marcos urges Comelec: Explain “square shapes” in the ballot images

FILE: Marcos said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should explain the supposed “oval shapes” instead of “square shapes” in the ballot images beside the Robredo’s name. (Photo: Thinking Pinoy – TP/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday said that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should explain the “square shapes” in his copies of ballot images which he claimed as a new evidence showing that Vice president Leni Robredo allegedly cheated in the 2016 national elections.

In a press conference, the camp of Marcos presented their copies of ballot images from Camarines Sur and Negros Oriental, two of the pilot provinces he identified in his poll protest before the Supreme Court (SC) sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

Marcos raised questions about the  “oval shapes” instead of “square shapes” in the ballot images beside the Robredo’s name.

“When we voted, we had the oval shapes. How come in the ballot images, the ovals are gone and instead we have the squares. What does this mean?” Marcos said.

“How come in the 2016 elections, there are squares? The ovals are now missing. Comelec should explain this,” he added.

Marcos said that the difference in the appearance of the original copies of the ballot from the ballot images he obtained from the PET provided by the Comelec violates the election law.

“They keep on delaying giving us the copies. It has been three months since the ballot images were printed and it was only recently that the PET allowed us to get the soft copies. Now we know why. This is shocking and highly questionable. This is precisely the reason why because they knew we would uncover how they had manipulated the voting and trampled upon the true will of the people on their choice for vice president,” he added.

Marcos also bared a ballot image with two votes still being counted in favor of Robredo.

He also showed another ballot which was considered an “undervote” even if the circle beside his name was shaded.

Marcos lost to Robredo for more than 260,000 votes.

For their part, the camp of Robredo renewed the authenticity of the election results and challenged Marcos to prove his claims before the SC.