Protests over long waits and malfunctions in the electronic voting system that did not, however, stop the very rapid release of ballot results. The capital's mayor realigns with Marcos Jr by calling for the dispersal of unauthorized demonstrations. Fears of further clampdowns in the direction already taken during the Duterte years.
Manila (AsiaNews) - While euphoria persists among supporters over Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos' landlside victory in Monday's presidential election (and the even larger one by vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte, daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte), Manila is also the scene of dissatisfaction over long waits outside polling stations, malfunctions in the electronic voting system, delays in counting and alleged fraud.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) national headquarters has been besieged by a crowd of various political backgrounds and origins united by a rejection of victory, although the gap from Marcos and presidential rival Leni Robredo (more than 16 million votes) leaves little room for interpretation on the will of voters who handed him the presidency for the next six years with 31.1 million votes per unofficial figures made available by the Comelec.
Doubts also exist about the surprisingly rapid transmission of results from polling stations despite the malfunctioning of more than 1,800 electronic voting devices. Fr. Robert Reyes, among the many Filipinos gathered in front of the Comelec the day after the poll, who were joined by hundreds of students and movement activists committed to ensuring a vote free of bias and clear in the results, spoke of a "magical moment."
The protests, also present in other cities, prompted Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Wednesday to ask administrative and security officials to "strictly implement" Batas Pambansa Bilang 880, a measure dating back to the time of the dictatorial government of Ferdinand Marcos (father of the newly elected president who will take office on June 30) that allows unauthorized public gatherings only in selected areas. A law used with repressive intent that for its opponents conflicts with the right of assembly and free expression of protest to the government guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution.
Domagoso was himself a candidate running for president but got less than two million preferences, which seems to confirm fears of a further repressive and illiberal development after the controversial presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. Indeed, since the unofficial results were released, a realignment on the positions of the Marcos-Duterte tandem is underway by various personalities who were previously political adversaries but are now willing to support the "national unity" to which "Bongbong" Marcos called after his victory.