Decrypted Images Revive Robredo’s Removal other than Marcos’ Election Protest

Bongbong Marcos said that his camp filed a Strong Manifestation with Motion regarding the use of decrypted ballot images in lieu of the original paper ballots for his election protest in numerous clustered precincts. He said that the decrypted ballot images “have been compromised.” This is in line with Atty. Glenn Chong’s revelations at the Senate. However, the strong force of the opposition is still felt in the Congress, Senate, and the Supreme Court. So, the outcome of Marcos’ electoral protest against VP Leni Robredo is uncertain.


Speculations have it that since the new Senate President, Tito Sotto and the newly elected House Speaker, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is pro-Marcos, the line of succession is secured by the administration. That’s where Sol-Gen Jose Calida can come in – just like in the case of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to perhaps remove Robredo from the second top position of the land.

Robredo’s Opposition

Romulo Macalintal, the lead counsel of Robredo is asking the PET to comment on Marcos’ opposition. Marcos is opposing the use of the decrypted ballot images for the electoral recount. He stands that the images have been compromised. Robredo’s camp is now appealing to the PET to junk Marcos’  opposition.

Marco’s Strong Manifestation

First of all, the integrity of the decrypted ballot images is uncertain. Hence, Marcos’ camp is filing a Strong Manifestation against the use of the decrypted ballot images. The former senator believes that the images have been compromised. Therefore, he is asking the PET to hold the use of these images at least until the issue on its integrity is resolved.

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Macalintal’s Argument on the Election Protest

Macalintal argues against Marcos pronouncements of the compromised ballot images. He says that Marcos’ camp has yet to present evidence to support his pronouncements. Atty. Chong disputes this and insists that IT professionals know the real score of the digital fraud as presented.

Compromised SD Cards

There are 26 SD cards, and an initial determination made three months ago suspect them to have the data. However, half of the SD cards suddenly turned up blank. Furthermore, Chong reveals that one of the SD cards, with Serial No. BUF0631 have been tampered with. This discovery of the Data in the SD cards serves as a proof of fraud, Marcos’ lawyer Vic Rodriquez says. The Comelec has also shown incompetence on how Smartmatic’s system is working, Edmund Casino, an IT expert says. The ballots are supposed to have oblongs in them but the images show squares. As the images are supposed to be an exact replica of the ballots this shows that they are fake.

Solicitor General Jose Calida’s Power

Solicitor General Jose Calida has served a key role in ousting CJ Sereno. Calida urged the Supreme Court to uphold its decision to oust former Chief Justice Sereno. This despite Sereno’s accusation of forum shopping and insistence that she is a person of proven integrity. The SC needed to settle the legal controversy, however, and the SC rules in favor of Calida’s petition. Now Calida is leaving it to the Comelec. He is doing so in order to defend it on the ongoing electoral protest. Consequently, he has filed a manifestation that backs the 50% ballot shading threshold. This favors the interest of Marcos’ camp. His Quo Warranto strategy is also an alternative to remove Robredo from office.