Robredo on VP race: It's just a matter of time
Jay Dayupay, ABS-CBN News
MANILA - Vice-presidential race frontrunner Cong. Leni Robredo on Wednesday expressed confidence that her lawyers can protect her slim lead over Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as Congress holds the official canvassing of votes.
Robredo heard Mass with her supporters before her legal team, led by Atty. Romulo Macalintal and incoming Senator Leila de Lima, went to Congress for the canvassing.
The unofficial quick count of Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) earlier showed that Robredo led Marcos by 200,000 votes.
Robredo claimed that it will not be long before Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), finishes the canvassing of votes and validates her victory.
"Ano naman ako, confident naman ako na kung ano ang katotohanan, iyon ang lalabas. Ano na lang talaga, matter of time. Kung mayroon man na pag-alinlangan, iyon ang mga kasinungalingan na fino-float," she said.
Robredo also said she hopes that the NBOC can declare the winners of the presidential and vice presidential elections before going on recess.
However, she admitted to being dismayed with the accusations of the Marcos camp which has raised questions on the integrity of the automated election system.
READ: Marcos camp files new set of criminal cases vs Smartmatic, Comelec
Meanwhile, Macalintal and De Lima showed copies of all Certificates of Canvass (COCs) provided by the Comelec, supposedly showing that Robredo has defeated Marcos.
Since all parties received a copy of election returns and COCs, Macalintal dared the Marcos camp to show even just one document where there is a discrepancy or irregularity in the votes.
Macalintal also said the election returns and COCs should be sustained by the NBOC.
"Our confidence that Ms. Leni Robredo had really won the election is because of the fact that we have practically all the certificates of canvass and practically all the election returns. In so far as the transmission, in so far as the preparation of these returns, we are confident that these documents will be sustained," he said.
He added that instead of using the media to air baseless accusations, the Marcos camp should provide their own evidence for their claims of election cheating against Robredo.