FACT CHECK: Pre-shaded ballots favoring VP Robredo were discovered in manual recount
March 29, 2022

As the 2022 presidential elections draw nearer, a video clip of PTV’s newscast three years ago has been reuploaded by the ‘Bbm Ka-Bataan ph’ Facebook page. The video talked about a claim against Vice President (VP) Leni Robredo made by Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s camp in 2018.

In the news report, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, lawyer for Marcos Jr., claimed that ballots with Robredo’s name already pre-shaded were found in ballot boxes from Baao, Camarines Sur – the vice president’s home province. The said ballots were allegedly found on the third day of the Supreme Court’s manual recount for Marcos’ electoral protest. Rodriguez did not specify how many ‘pre-shaded ballots’ were found.

The cropped video also showed the caption, “UULITIN NILA NGAYONG 2022” and “2016 PRE-SHADED BALLOTS, 2022 ADVANCE PRE-SHADED Comelec issue,” hinting that a manual vote count should be done for the upcoming polls.

CLAIM:

Pre-shaded ballots favoring VP Leni Robredo in the 2016 elections were discovered during the manual recounting of votes from Camarines Sur

RATING:

FALSE

FACTS:

The Supreme Court (SC) already junked the entire electoral protest filed by the Marcos camp in 2021. A source from SC even noted that the Marcos camp’s “allegations were bare, generic and repetitious,” and generally lacking merit.

Robredo’s camp has already dismissed the issue of pre-shaded ballots as “ridiculous,” and the allegations were bereft of evidence. Instead of supporting Marcos Jr.’s claims in his electoral protest, the 2019 manual recount widened Robredo’s lead over Marcos Jr., as the recount added 15,093 more votes for Robredo, increasing her lead against Marcos to 278,566 votes. 

WHY THIS MATTERS:

Despite the SC’s definitive ruling on Marcos Jr.’s electoral protest, materials such as this reuploaded video still circulate in an apparent attempt to sow unfounded accusations against the current vice president, especially as election polls and campaign rallies show that Robredo and Marcos Jr. are battling head to head for the presidency. Currently, the video has over 354,000 views, 17,000 reactions, and 2,800 comments.   –Maez Estrada and Joseph Gloria

Altermidya Network is part of #FactsFirstPH which brings together various sectors that are committed to promoting truth in the public space, and exacting accountability on those who harm it with lies. For those interested to join the initiative, email info@factsfirst.ph.

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