Administration senatorial bet Benhur Abalos Jr. swiftly debunked allegations made by former ally, re-electionist Senator Imee Marcos, regarding alleged irregularities in the automated counting machines (ACMs) on Election Day, Monday.
Abalos issued the statement shortly after Marcos cited complaints alleging that Abalos’ name appeared on the poll receipts despite not receiving votes, insinuating that some machines may have been pre-programmed.
“Since this morning, I’ve been receiving complaints from different places about allegedly programmed machines that show ‘Abalos’ as the vote no matter who you choose, and sometimes don’t register votes for other senators,” Marcos told reporters in an ambush interview after casting her vote at Cabeza Elementary School in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
Abalos, on the other hand, denied Marcos’ accusations, asserting that he never engaged in such fraudulent activity and that the surge in his voting preference, as indicated by recent pre-election surveys, was entirely organic and a result of his team’s collaborative effort.
“As for our campaign, the surge we’re seeing — reflected in the SWS (Social Weather Survey), where we saw a 6-percent increase from April, and other surveys — is the result of hard work, honest engagement, and a clear vision,” he stressed.
Moreover, the former Interior and Local Government secretary highlighted various endorsements from prominent figures in the government, including former vice president Leni Robredo, as well as famous and respected celebrities, as contributing factors behind his momentum in recent poll surveys, after months of being at the bottommost.
“We’ve earned the support of people from all walks of life, with endorsements from respected leaders, organizations, and sectors, including former vice president Leni Robredo, senate president Drilon, ULAP, Liga ng mga Barangay, LCP (League of Cities of the Philippines), and JIL (Jesus is Lord) Church, among others. We’ve received overwhelming support from various governors, mayors, and congressmen,” he said.
“These endorsements are not just words; they result from tireless effort, sincere dedication, and a clear commitment to serving the Filipino people,” Abalos pointed out.
He concluded, “This momentum is real. This movement is growing. And we are prepared to carry the trust of the Filipino people all the way to the Senate.”
Nonetheless, Abalos said he will leave the matter to the proper authorities “to assess and respond to the allegation, if warranted.”
Marcos and Abalos were running under the same ticket — Alyansa — before the senator formally withdrew from the slate in late March in protest of the administration’s decision to turn over former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court.
The majority of Alyansa’s bets have high chances to land in the so-called Magic 12, as indicated by the Social Weather Survey conducted from 2 to 6 May, with Marcos securing the last spot.
Sixty-six candidates vied for 12 Senate seats in this year’s polls.