Latest news with #PDP-Laban
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Footage of Philippine election workers destroying unused ballots not proof of fraud
A TikTok video posted on June 2 shows footage of people in a room tearing up papers, next to a picture of Comelec chairperson George Garcia. "Those ballots should not be torn up, they should be used in the recount," reads the Tagalog-language text superimposed on the video. "George Garcia, are you afraid people will find out how you manipulated results of the elections?" Vice President Sara Duterte, who may face an impeachment trial at the Senate, said in June that she believes the May 12 mid-term vote was marred with fraud, after several senatorial candidates she backed did not win a seat (archived here and here). Her political party has since asked the country's Supreme Court to order a recount of votes (archived link). Philippine outlet ANC reported Garcia has rejected the allegations (archived link). The video was shared elsewhere on TikTok and Facebook. Comments on the post indicate some users appear to believe the footage shows a cover-up. "This only proves that the PDP-Laban won," one said, referring to Duterte's political party. "This is embarrassing for you, Garcia!" another wrote. But the clip actually shows election workers destroying unused ballots as required by law. Keyword searches of the clip's keyframes led to a two-minute video published by local news outlet Daily Tribune on Facebook on May 30 with a caption saying it shows "the destruction of about six million unused, defective, and rejected printed ballots" printed for the elections (archived link). Other local news outlets, including The Manila Times and ABS-CBN, also published videos showing a similar scene in reports (archived here and here). The election agency also posted a livestream on its official Facebook page on the same day showing the process (archived link). Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told AFP on June 25 that after every election, the agency destroys defective and rejected ballots, as well as spoiled accountable forms, "as part of its culmination of printing, verification, and exit processes". The requirement -- along with the printing of official ballots and other election-related tasks -- is outlined in Comelec documents on voting procedures on election day (archived here and here). "It is incumbent upon the Comelec to ensure that official ballots and other election forms are destroyed after elections such that it cannot be used or reused for any other purposes than what is allowed under the law," Laudiangco added. Angel Averia, chairperson of the Philippine watchdog National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections, also said the TikTok post's caption is misleading (archived link). "Excess, unused ballots are not necessarily evidence of fraud. Comelec holds such an activity after each electoral exercise," she told AFP on June 11. Alexa Yadao, program officer at election monitor Legal Network for Truthful Elections, told AFP on June 18 that destroying the ballots is one of the safeguards "to ensure that they will not be used for other purposes" (archived link). The agency also destroyed unused ballots related to the 2023 village and youth council elections, and the 2022 presidential elections (archived here, here, and here).
GMA Network
7 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
PDP-Laban seeks manual recount of Eleksyon 2025 senatorial votes
The PDP-Laban on Monday filed a petition seeking for a manual recount of senatorial votes in recently concluded midterm elections. PDP-Laban legal counsel Atty. Israelito Torreon filed the Motion For Leave To File Supplemental Petition for Mandamus with the Supreme Court. 'What is essential is that the mandated process under our prevailing election laws be carried out, so that the truth may be known, accountability may be identified and exacted, and public confidence in the electoral process may be restored,' the PDP-Laban stated in its petition. Torreon was accompanied by singer-lawyer Jimmy Bondoc, who ran but lost in the 2025 senatorial polls. To recall, Vice President Sara Duterte claimed that there was fraud in the recent elections, saying that three more PDP bets 'won.' During an Independence Day event with Filipinos in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Duterte said she spoke to IT experts who said it was impossible that the numbers that came out in the elections were true. She urged PDP to question how the counting process was done. The two PDP-Laban bets who won in the recent midterm elections were reelectionists Christopher 'Bong' Go and Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa. Meanwhile, House member Rodante Marcoleta, who also won, was endorsed by the PDP. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
The Star
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
VP Sara Duterte back in Philippines after Malaysia trip
Vice President Sara Duterte is back in the country after spending Independence Day with Filipinos in Malaysia. - Photo from PDP-Laban/Facebook MANILA: Vice President Sara Duterte has returned to the Philippines on Saturday (June 14) after her trip to Malaysia, her office said. Duterte was in Malaysia for a 'personal trip' and joined Filipinos in an Independence Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur last Thursday. 'Vice President Sara Z. Duterte returned to the Philippines on Saturday, 14 June 2025, arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) at around 5:43am via Philippine Airlines flight no. PR 530,' her office said in a bulletin. 'The Vice President is scheduled to attend the 2025 Pasidungog awarding ceremony in Davao City on Monday, 16 June 2025,' it added. Joining Duterte at the Independence Day celebration in Malaysia's capital were Sens. Robin Padilla and Imee Marcos as well as Partido Demokratiko Pilipino officials and former senatorial bets Jimmy Bondoc, Jayvee Hinlo and Richard Mata. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Filipino Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
VP tirades vs. administration reflect self, family
Malacañang hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte, saying her tirades against the administration spoke of her own performance and the Duterte family's legacy. Duterte's message at the PDP-Laban's final campaign rally for its senatorial candidates accused the president of dragging the country down. 'Hindi ako ang problema ng Pilipinas. Hindi Duterte ang problema ng Pilipinas,' Duterte said. She went on to question who eventually benefits from the demolition job on the Duterte family: 'Sino nga ba ang tunay na makikinabang kung tuluyan nang burahin sa mundong ito ang pamilyang Duterte? Hindi ang mga Pilipino.' In response, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Duterte's statements seemed to mirror her and those of her family. She cited Duterte's admission during her time as education secretary, where she said: 'I do not come from the education sector. I don't have an education background, so I cannot review what they are doing, and I rely on their expertise.' The Palace said this contributed to the neglect of the education sector, citing 1.5 million laptops left idle in warehouses since 2020, the distribution of spoiled milk and moldy 'Nutribun' bread in public schools worth P5.7 billion, and the ghost students case where P65 million was recovered only after Duterte's exit from the agency.. 'Hindi po ba siya ang problema ng bansa o isa sa mga problema ng bansa?' Castro asked. The Palace further agreed with Duterte's own words that 'we are now paying the price for choosing the wrong leader,' which apply to her tenure in public service.
Filipino Times
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Marcos responds to Duterte's controversial remarks on Senators
President Bongbong Marcos on Saturday indirectly addressed former President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial remarks about killing incumbent senators to create space for PDP-Laban candidates. Marcos made his comments during a campaign rally in Davao del Norte, Duterte's political stronghold, where he endorsed the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate. Marcos remarked, 'We see the other party… they seem unnerved, maybe even afraid of you, because when they see the Alyansa lineup, they start saying all sorts of things.' He expressed concern about the dangerous rhetoric that normalizes violence as a political strategy. 'We just heard the other day that they said there's no hope — maybe because they have no hope themselves, so they would rather eliminate 15 senators. It's troubling that some people think the only solution to all problems is to kill more Filipinos. It's puzzling why they think that way,' he said. While criticizing the violence-inciting rhetoric, Marcos acknowledged the competitive nature of his campaign, noting that opposing political groups may feel threatened by the strength of his slate. 'If I were in the opposing party facing this lineup, I would say this is a tough campaign. The competition is strong because if you assess each of them individually, they have outstanding records and impressive performances in their respective positions in government,' he added. The remarks came in response to Duterte's statement at last Thursday's PDP-Laban rally, where he suggested killing senators to open up vacancies for his party's candidates.
