FACT CHECK | Marcos’ claims he was a victim of electoral fraud in 2016 polls is false

April 27, 2022 , 08:16 PM

(April 27, 2022) – The only son and namesake of the late dictator claimed once again that he was defeated in the May 2016 vice presidential race because of electoral fraud.

He continued to appeal his election protest against the sitting vice president, but the Supreme Court had unanimously denied it for a lack of merit. The vote recount even increased his rival’s narrow lead. His claim is false.

CLAIM:

In a one-on-one interview with CNN Philippines on Tuesday, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is running for president in the May 2022 polls, claimed that he was a victim of electoral fraud in the 2016 vice presidential race, which he narrowly lost to then and current archrival Leonor “Leni” Robredo.

“Yung nabalitaan nating manggugulo sa eleksyon, at saka yung dayaan, biktima na ako diyan noong 2016,” Marcos said. “Kaya syempre kailangan maging maingat diyan kasi nakita ko na kung ano ang maaaring mangyari.”

RATING: FALSE

FACTS:

The Supreme Court (SC), which sits as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), last year unanimously dismissed Marcos Jr.’s electoral protest against Robredo’s win in the 2016 vice presidential polls as he “failed to make his case” and there was “no substantial recovery of votes in the pilot provinces that he himself had designated.”

The former senator filed his poll protest shortly after the 2016 polls, alleging Robredo cheated her slim victory of around 263,000. He sought to declare Robredo’s proclamation null and void, recount the votes in three provinces, and annul the results in three more provinces.

But after a recount of votes in Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental, Robredo’s lead instead grew by around 15,000 votes.

Marcos still appealed his protest to the PET, questioning the decision of the majority not to act on his cause of action to annul the votes in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao, where he also questioned the results.

But the PET has already ruled that his appeal cannot be granted as he failed to establish his case. In any case, Robredo would still have won even if the SC granted his request to nullify the votes in the provinces, albeit with a narrower 15,130-vote lead.

WHY THIS MATTERS:

The claim came from the frontrunner in the presidential race, which can influence the public’s perception of the candidates and on the integrity of elections as a whole. Fact-checking initiative Tsek.ph said that he has been the top beneficiary of misinformation.

His statement was also aired on television and livestreamed online, which garnered 19,000 reactions, 15,000 comments, and 4,000 shares on CNN Philippines’ Facebook page.

News 5 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, e-mail info@factsfirst.ph. Message News 5’s Facebook page if you want to have any claims fact-checked. Read our fact-checking policy here.

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