LIVE UPDATES: Philippine elections 2022

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to lead the presidential race with 24,565,511 votes with 75.6% of election returns recorded. Closest rival Leni Robredo, meanwhile, has 11,691,138 votes.

In the vice-presidential race, Sara Duterte is still top with 24,411,764 votes while Robredo’s running mate Kiko Pangilinan is second with 7,356,975.

For more results, visit Bilang Pilipino.

With 66.1% of election returns recorded, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to lead the presidential race with 21,725,982 votes. Meanwhile, closest rival Leni Robredo gets 10,282,280 votes.

In the vice-presidential race, Duterte widens her lead with 21,339,912 votes while Robredo’s running mate Kiko Pangilinan trails in second with 6,506,755.

The senatorial “Magic 12” remains unchanged.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reached 20,084,651 votes for the presidential seat as 61.05% of election returns are recorded.

Behind Marcos is Leni Robredo with 9,492,702 votes. The former senator leads in the Ilocos region, Central Luzon, National Capital Region, and the Davao region.

The late dictator’s son’s running mate Sara Duterte continues to lead the vice presidential race with 19,706,564 votes.

These results make up 61.05% of election returns and were recorded at 9:38 p.m.

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate Sara Duterte continue to take the lead as the Commission on Elections count 53.5% of election returns.

Marcos retains the top spot in the presidential race with 17,541,799 votes, with Leni Robredo in second with 8,311,501. Trailing behind are Manny Pacquiao with 1,486,592, Isko Moreno with 1,188,776 and Ping Lacson with 567,751 votes.

Marcos has surpassed the 16,601,997 total number of votes President Rodrigo Duterte won in 2016 polls.

For the vice presidential count, Duterte has a wide lead over her rivals with 17,155,745 votes. Trailing her are Kiko Pangilinan with 5,276,161, Tito Sotto with 4,783,190, and Doc Willie Ong with 1,209,536.

Robin Padilla keeps his lead in the senatorial race with 14,309,020 votes, followed by Loren Legarda with 13,939,469, and Raffy Tulfo with 13,356,368.

Here are the rest of the 12 top senatorial candidates.

1. Robin Padilla
2. Loren Legarda
3. Raffy Tulfo
4. Win Gatchalian
5. Chiz Escudero
6. Mark Villar
7. Alan Peter Cayetano
8. Joel Villanueva
9. Migz Zubiri 
10. Risa Hontiveros
11. JV Ejercito
12. Jinggoy Estrada

These results, recorded as of 9 PM, make up 53.5% of the election returns and are partial and unofficial.

The tandem of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte take the lead in the initial ballot results from the  Commission on Elections.

According to TV5’s Bilang Pilipino broadcast as of 8:46 PM, Marcos has 15,339,878 of the votes for the presidential race with Leni Robredo trailing in second with 7,288,834 votes.

Manny Pacquaio is in third with 1,262,192 votes, followed by Isko Moreno Domagoso with 1,063,656 votes, and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson with 505,265 votes.

For the vice presidential race, Duterte leads with 14,973,051 votes, followed by Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan with 4,632,451 votes. Trailing in third is Vicente “Tito” Sotto with 4,197,511, and Doc Willie Ong with 1,083,423 votes 

As for the senatorial slate, Robin Padilla leads with 12,491886 votes. He is followed by former senator Loren Legarda and radio personality Raffy Tulfo. Here are the 12 candidates that make up the “Magic 12”

1. Robin Padilla
2. Loren Legarda
3. Raffy Tulfo
4. Win Gatchalian
5. Chiz Escudero
6. Mark Villar (tahimik lang yan)
7. Alan Peter Cayetano
8. Joel Villanueva
9. Migz Zubiri 
10. Risa Hontiveros
11. JV Ejercito
12. Jinggoy Estrada

These numbers make up 46.93% of the election returns and are partial and unofficial.

Filipino users on Twitter have made #ExtendVotingHoursPH the country’s top trending topic after the May 9 polls officially closed earlier at 7 PM.

Throughout the day, a number of netizens were tweeting about their interrupted voting experience, which saw long queues due to defective vote-counting machines. #ExtendVotingHoursPH has over 37,000 tweets as of writing.

Party-lists Gabriela and Kabataan took to Twitter to voice their calls for the extension.

‼️#ExtendVotingHoursPH ‼️
We have received numerous reports regarding stalled voting because of defective vote counting machines and corrupted SD cards. Precints will close in less two hours -- with millions at risk of being DISENFRANCHISED. @COMELEC heed the call for extension! pic.twitter.com/ZdphlzQjRT

— #67GabrielaPartylist (@GabrielaWomenPL) May 9, 2022

Di makaboto dahil sa sirang vote counting machine? Di mo yun kasalanan.

Filipino voters should not suffer over the failures of the system and the COMELEC itself. #ExtendVotingHoursPH Every vote counts. We decide!

Let's make it trend by 4:40 pm in a social media rally pic.twitter.com/GHw1oU1BMj

— #95Kabataan Partylist (@KabataanPL) May 9, 2022

According to Comelec commissioner Marlon Casquejo, 22,693 out of 106,174 clustered precincts have closed polls as of 7 PM, with 486 precincts have already transmitted voting results.

As the Commission on Elections convened as the National Board of Canvassers, the poll body announced that the canvassing of election results for the senatorial and party-list race is suspended until May 10, 1 PM.

“At this point, we are still awaiting electronic transmission of the results. Therefore, this canvass is hereby suspended, to resume tomorrow at 1 PM. The parties and counsels are notified of the resumption and open session,” said Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan.

Commissioner George Garcia added canvassing for the municipal, city, and provincial-level will continue after counting tonight.

Partial unofficial results will be available through the poll body’s transparency server.

With voting now officially closed, voters at Teachers’ Village in Quezon City have been airing their frustrations by chanting “walang uuwi,” refusing to vote manually and leave their ballots.
 
The polling precinct faced vote-counting machine and SD card malfunctions, with only one out of the three devices working since 6:30 AM.

Voters were told to manually cast their votes and to leave their ballots for the Comelec chairman to feed into the VCM.

The Commission on Elections is open to extending voting hours for the 2022 elections past the 7 PM cutoff time following reports of malfunctioning vote-counting machines (VCM).

Comelec chairperson Saidamen Pangarungan cited election laws which indicates that voters who are still in the vicinity of the voting center beyond 7 PM will still be allowed to cast their botes.

“We can extend the voting hours up to the time we have accommodated everyone within the vicinity of the voting center,” said Pangarungan in a press briefing.

According to Comelec officials, some 1,800 VCMs malfunctioned on May 9, with machines encountering issues such with scanning, printing, paper jams, and rejected ballots. Comelec commissioner George Garcia said earlier that these issues have been resolved.

Pangarungan also said that the poll body might declare a failure of elections in certain voting centers, like Lanao del Sur where an incident of violence occured.

The Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines said the 2022 national elections is “generally peaceful,” stating that the number of violence-related incidents is low.

According to AFP, there had been 16 "validated election-related incidents" starting January 9, including four shootings and a "slight illegal detention.”

Meanwhile, Comelec has yet to share data including today’s cases of two explosions, two shootings, grenade-throwing, two ambushes, two armed clashes between political rivals, firings, and ballot snatching, among others. They also mentioned the slaying of four people.

“What’s important is nakalatag security ng AFP tsaka PNP and we were able to react immediately,” said AFP spokesperson Ramon Zagala. 

“The security situation is good in terms of people being able to vote and there is a continuity of the electoral process.”

Zagala added that the cases were still a “good low number.” 

In 2019, then-PNP chief Oscar Albayalde reported 43 incidents during the general elections.

The 2016 national elections, meanwhile, recorded 106 incidents. When asked if they will proclaim a failure of elections because of the incidents, Comelec chair Saidamen Pangarungan responded that failure of election is not an option, “but [the] decision that must be made by the Comission en banc.”

President Rodrigo Duterte has finished casting his vote in Davao City’s Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School.

He was accompanied by his partner, Honeylet Avancena and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.

Duterte did not formally endorse a candidate during the entire three-month election period. During his May 3 Talk to the People address, he said: “Wala akong kandidato pagka-president ngayon hanggang Disyembre para maano ninyo na wala kami, and even the Cabinet.”

LOOK: President Rodrigo Duterte casts his vote in Davao City on Monday afternoon. #BilangPilipino2022 pic.twitter.com/oZ9qkQOd6r

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 9, 2022

Presidential candidate Leody De Guzman has called the attention of the Commission on Elections to investigate the election anomalies reported today, May 9.

The labor leader listed down the issues that have affected the May 9 national elections such as, but not limited to: Vote-buying in Las Piñas, poll watcher harassment in Cavite, tampered sample ballots in Bataan, poll watchers shading ballots in Mindanao, and nearly 2,000 defected VCMs as reported by Comelec.

“Nananawagan tayo sa Comelec na imbestigahan ang mga naiulat na insidente,” De Guzman said. “Sa isyu ng pumalyang vote scanners, ilinaw ni Commissioner Casquejo ang kanyang mga naunang pahayag na "good as new" na ang naturang mga makina. Pinaglaanan ng P600 milyon para sa repair and refurbishment.”

“Kung sa scanning machine ay mayroon nang posibleng anomalya, paano pa sa transmission na less transparent kumpara dito?”

De Guzman casted his vote early today at the Cainta Elementary School in Rizal.

The Comission on Elections has formally convened as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) for the 2022 national elections.

The results for the senatorial and party list slates will be proclaimed in five to seven days, as per Commissioner George Garcia. 

COMELEC chair Saidamen Pangarungan orders ceremonial opening of consolidation and canvassing system or CCS. | @shecrisostomo pic.twitter.com/EqdOYJmwiw

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 9, 2022

During the session, Comelec head Saidamen Pangarungan also ordered the ceremonial opening of consolidation and canvassing system (CCS) laptops for the counting of ballots.

Meanwhile, according to Garcia, the partial and unofficial results for the presidential and vice presidential winners will be known by the seventh day after polls close today.

Senatorial aspirant and former presidential spox Harry Roque has finished voting at the White Plains subdivision in Quezon City.

In a separate Facebook post showing him at the White Plains waiting area, Roque cleared that he did not cut the line nor geo angry at poll volunteers as alleged in some online posts.

“Hindi po tayo tumalon sa pila. Hindi po totoo ang ikinakalat na balita,” he said.

“Nakakalungkot na hanggang sa halalalan tuloy ang paninira sa akin. Ako po pumunta sa presinto bilang isang ordinaryong mamayan hindi po kandito. Nagtanong po lang po ako ng aking presinto.”

He added that his naturally loud voice didn’t mean that he got angry at poll volunteers. 

“Ako po ay respetadong abogado hindi po ako mageeskandalo. Ako po ay abogado na ginagalang ang batas sa paraan ng pagboto at ginagalang ang kapwa ko,” Roque said.

Roque landed at 18th place in the latest Pulse Asia senatorial survey among 2,400 respondents.

The Commission on Election said there is no justification to extend voter hours after 7:00PM.

 "As of now, nothing will justify the extension of voting beyond 7 PM,’ said Comelec commissioner George Garcia in a press conference. 

Is COMELEC open to extending voting hours today?

Comm. George Garcia says, "As of now, nothing will justify the extension of voting beyond 7 p.m." #BilangPilipino2022 (via @bworldph/@jdordonezbw) pic.twitter.com/6UgJz4eQnr

— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) May 9, 2022

Precincts have been open since 6:00 AM, but some voters have aired their frustration over defective VCMs and long queues.

Comelec has reported nearly 2,000 VMCs with “common issues” such as paper jams, rejected ballots, as well as malfunctioning scanners and printers.

Senator Manny Pacquiao has casted his vote at the Kiamba Central Elementary School in Sarangani province.

The senator places third in the Pulse Asia pre-election survey with 7% of votes among 2,400 respondents. He trails behind Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Leni Robredo.

"DO NOT LEAVE YOUR BALLOTS" and "PROTECT YOUR VOTES," written in uppercase, were among Twitter's trending topics on May 9, based on a Twitter trends tracker—following reports of defective vote-counting machines (VCMs).

According to trends24, over 24,000 tweets bear the phrase "DO NOT LEAVE YOUR BALLOTS" as of 12:00NN,  as several netizens voiced their concerns online over alleged problems in polling precincts. Among them is vice presidential spokesman Barry Gutierrez.

As of 10:30AM, the Commission on Elections said about 2,000 VCMs were reportedly defective.

Issues, though “resolved” already, include over 900 paper jams and 600 rejected ballots. Over 150 VCM scanners have also reportedly malfunctioned, while over 160 machines have printing problems.

Former Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told voters that they have two options: vote and leave their ballots or wait until the VCMs get fixed.

"Dalawang options nyo. Bumoto at iwan ang balota, or maghintay hanggang pwede na uli magamit ang makina," Jimenez said.

Dalawang options nyo. Bumoto at iwan ang balota, or maghintay hanggang pwede na uli magamit ang makina. #VoteSAFEPilipinas

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) May 8, 2022

"COMELEC" was also among over 145,000 tweets, as netizens were calling out the poll body due to the reported issues. "VCMs" had over 37,000 tweets.

Hashtags #Eleksyon2022, #HALALAN2022, and #VoteSAFEPilipinas topped the list with over 102,000, 92,000, and 24,000 tweets, respectively.

Hashtag #LeniRobredoForPresident also had over 50,000 tweets, according to trends24.

Click this link for the story on the other trending hashtags on election day.

After about two hours of waiting, Vice President Leni Robredo was finally able to vote at the Carangcang Elementary School in Magarao in Camarines Sur.

Matapos maghintay sa pila, nasa voting precinct na at kasalukuyan nang bumoboto si presidential candidate Vice Pres. Leni Robredo sa Carangcang Elementary School sa Magarao, Camarines Sur. #BilangPilipino2022 pic.twitter.com/LxUTOZHnXX

— News5 (@News5PH) May 9, 2022

The school had long lines of voters that stretched outside its premises. Voters reportedly queued as early as 5:30AM.

LOOK: Long lines of voters outside of Carangcang Elementary School in Magarao, Camarines Sur. pic.twitter.com/8duz57n7LG

— Gerard de la Peña (@gerarddelapena) May 8, 2022

Robredo's daughters Aika and Tricia earlier cast their votes at the Tabuco Central School in Naga, while Jillian voted through overseas absentee voting.

Robredo is the closest rival of survey frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.. She got a 23% score among 2,400 respondents in the latest Pulse Asia survey, trailing Marcos Jr. who has 56%.

Vice presidential candidate Tito Sotto and his wife Helen Gamboa cast their votes in the White Plains precinct in Quezon City.

LOOK: Vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III and wife Helen Gamboa vote in the White Plains precinct in Quezon City (📸 Team Lacson-Sotto) | @PaoloSRomero pic.twitter.com/z6sS3E2b9Y

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 9, 2022

Sotto is in the second spot of the May 2 Pulse Asia survey, with 18% of votes among 2,400 respondents.

Presidential bet Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso has arrived at the Magat Elementary School in Tondo in Manila to cast his vote.

In a video, Domagoso can be seen greeting dozens of voters in queues, who can be heard cheering for him.

Presidential candidate Manila Mayor Isko Moreno arrives at the Magat Elementary School in Tondo, Manila to vote. He skips the line to his clustered precinct but his supporters do not mind. #BilangPilipino2022 (via Philippine Star/@mjaysoncayabyab) pic.twitter.com/2QhWVmNNeZ

— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) May 9, 2022

The Manila mayor also reportedly cut in line and went straight to his clustered precinct.

The voters caught on camera didn’t seem to mind. Domagoso had a 4% score among 2,400 in the latest Pulse Asia survey.

A Commission on Elections official said about 2,000 vote-counting machines (VCMs) were defective as of 10:30AM.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said common issues, though “resolved” already, include over 900 paper jams and 600 rejected ballots.

According to Comm. George Garcia close to 2000 vote counting machines have been reported to have defects:

Common issues (but resolved)
Paper Jam-940
Rejected ballots- 606
Vcm scanner- 158
Vcm printer not printing- 87
Not printing properly- 76

— Greg Gregorio (@GVGregorio_TV5) May 9, 2022

Over 150 VCM scanners have also reportedly malfunctioned, while over 160 machines have printing issues.

Many netizens took to social media to air their voting concerns in their respective polling precincts, including vice presidential spokesman Barry Gutierrez.

Vice presidential bet Kiko Pangilinan and wife Sharon Cuneta have arrived at the Inchican Elementary School in Silang in Cavite to vote.

Vice presidential candidate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan arrives at the Inchican Elementary School in Silang, Cavite to cast his vote. He is joined by his wife Sharon Cuneta. #BilangPilipino2022 (via News5/@maeannelosbanos) pic.twitter.com/HNAg5yRD95

— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) May 9, 2022

Earlier in the day, Pangilinan wrote a Facebook post thanking his supporters for backing his candidacy.

"For this rare opportunity, I will forever be thankful. Even moreso knowing that I fought hard and mightily alongside many of you," he said.

"Win or lose, having helped inspire and awaken our people and the nation towards purposeful action is victory in itself. The struggle and the journey continues."

Pangilinan ranked third in the latest Pulse Asia survey, getting 16% among 2,400 respondents. He's lagging behind Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio with 55% and Senate President Tito Sotto with 16%.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has received 73,982 manual ballots from the local absentee voting (LAV) last April 27 to 29.

The number is over 85% of the approved 84,537 local absentee voters.

LOOK | COMELEC Committee on Local Absentee Voting has received 73,982 manual ballots from LAV polling places. This is already more than 85% of the 84,357 approved Local Absentee Voters. @News5PH @onenewsph pic.twitter.com/ZlGk8w8XZD

— Greg Gregorio (@GVGregorio_TV5) May 9, 2022

Of the figure, uniformed personnel accounted for over 69,000 of ballots:

• 41,000 - Philippine National Police,
• 24,000 - Philippine Army,
• 2,700 - Philippine Air Force,
• 750 - Bureau of Jail Management and Penology,
• 300 - Philippine Navy,
• 200 - Philippine Coast Guard,
• 100 - Bureau of Fire Protection.

Over 2,000 Department of Education workers cast their votes.

Some 900 Comelec officials and 800 media workers also exercised their right to suffrage.

Twenty-two workers from the Department of Interior and Local Government voted, while less than 10 voters each came from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Public Attorney's Office, Culion Hospital, and National Power Corporation.

Under Comelec's rules, LAV allows government workers, soldiers, police officers, and media personnel to vote in advance because of their duties on May 9.

They, however, may only vote for national positions: president, vice president, 12 senators, and a party-list group.

The votes will be canvassed at Comelec's main office in Intramuros in Manila after polls close at 7:00PM.

Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero just cast his vote at the Buhatan Integrated School in Brgy. Buhatan with his wife Heart Evangelista.

Escudero shared a photo of him and Evangelista in all-white outfits as they're shading their ballots.

"Huwag nating sayangin ang pagkakataon na ito na pumili at piliin ang mga susunod na mamumuno sa ating bansa," said Escudero, who is seeking a comeback in the Senate.

Escudero, who was a senator from 2007 to 2019, is part of the so-called Magic 12 in pre-election surveys. He's ranked 4th to 8th in the latest Pulse Asia survey, scoring 38.6% of votes among 2,400 respondents.

He ran for vice president in 2016.

Millions of Filipinos thronged primary schools and other polling stations Monday to elect a new president, with the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos the favourite to win the high-stakes election.

Nearly 40 years after the patriarch was deposed by a popular revolt and the family chased into exile, Ferdinand Marcos Junior looks set to complete their remarkable comeback from pariahs to the peak of political power. 

Vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio has cast her vote in hometown Davao City.

Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte, was also spotted writing on the desk of an armchair at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National Science High School.

Pinirmahan at nagsulat ng mensahe si vice presidential candidate Mayor Sara Duterte sa upuan kung saan siya bumoto sa Davao City. #BilangPilipino2022 pic.twitter.com/IbqScfG5wh

— News5 (@News5PH) May 9, 2022

Some netizens criticized the supposed act of "vandalism." It was not immediately clear what Duterte-Carpio wrote on the desk.

A Commission on Elections (Comelec) official said there have been firing incidents in Basilan while the May 9 elections are ongoing.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said a "strafing incident" happened in two barangays in Sumipsip, while a "heavy firing" took place in Bulobulo, Tabuan-Lasa.

JUST IN: Comelec Commissioner George Garcia told reporters that a strafing incident happened in two barangays in Sumipsip and a “heavy firing in Island Brgy. Bulobulo” in Basilan. #BilangPilipino2022 | @iambertramirez pic.twitter.com/MNoB40bUa4

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 9, 2022

Garcia noted that there are no casualties and injuries reported "as of this time."

"All of these did not stop Comelec from delivering election paraphernalia to designated voting centers," he said. "Allah is great!"

The poll body official noted that it's all systems go for Basilan's 499 clustered precincts in 11 municipalities and two cities.

Vice President Leni Robredo's spokesman took to Twitter to air his frustrations over lining up early to vote—only to wait for nothing.

Barry Gutierrez was among several netizens who are complaning on social media about alleged problems in their polling precincts, particularly defective vote counting machines.

"Three hours in line to vote and counting," Barry Gutierrez said. "Smartmatic tech person 'on the way,' but still no definite time. People getting angry."

Three hours in line to vote and counting. Smartmatic tech person "on the way," but still no definite time. People getting angry. @COMELEC madami daw ganitong insidente, hope you are already doing something to address.

— Barry Gutierrez (@barrygutierrez3) May 9, 2022

In an earlier tweet, Gutierrez lamented how he was already on the queue at 5:30AM.

"[T]hey're telling us may problema daw sa VCM and we should just come back," he said. "Walang oras na binigay. Ano na ito @COMELEC?"

I was in line to vote at 5:30 am. Now they're telling us may problema daw sa VCM and we should just come back. Walang oras na binigay. Ano na ito @COMELEC?

— Barry Gutierrez (@barrygutierrez3) May 8, 2022

The Commission on Elections said 10 defective vote counting machines are up for replacement as of 8:10AM.

The Commission on Elections said 10 defective vote counting machines are up for replacement as of 8:10AM.

"Voting continue less personal feeding while waiting for the contingency VCM to arrive," Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said.

Former Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told voters that in case of emergency, they have two options: vote and leave their ballots or wait until the VCMs get fixed.

"Dalawang options nyo. Bumoto at iwan ang balota, or maghintay hanggang pwede na uli magamit ang makina," Jimenez said.

Dalawang options nyo. Bumoto at iwan ang balota, or maghintay hanggang pwede na uli magamit ang makina. #VoteSAFEPilipinas

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) May 8, 2022

He also reminded those who will be filing reports to include the precinct number and location.

If you’re reporting on things going on at your precinct - sirang makina, wrong procedures, etc., please include the precinct number and location. #VoteSAFEPilipinas

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) May 8, 2022

In a press conference earlier, acting Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco said the poll body has deployed technicians to fix defective VCMs. Contingency VCMs are also available if the hardware issues cannot be resolved.

Presidential candidate Leody de Guzman has arrived at the Cainta Elementary School in Rizal to cast his vote, accompanied by his wife and son.

Presidential candidate and labor leader Ka Leody De Guzman has arrived at the Cainta Elementary School in Rizal to vote. He is joined by his wife and his son. #BilangPilipino2022 (via News5/@JCCosico) pic.twitter.com/EEsTiGPOji

— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) May 9, 2022

A labor leader and activist, De Guzman is looking into removing contractualization and imposing a 20% "wealth tax" on the country's richest families. He also wants to retrieve the Marcoses' ill-gotten wealth and exhume the remains of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

De Guzman is trailing in the presidential race, with a score of 0.3% among 2,400 respondents from Pulse Asia's May 2 survey.

An official from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the first two hours of the May 9 elections are so far, so good—with no untoward incidents reported just yet.

"Ngayon, wala po kaming natatanggap na (reported) major issues," acting Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco said during a press briefing at the Philippine International Convention Center Forum in Pasay, where the national canvassing will be held. "That's a good indicator na maganda ang nagaganap na botohan."

Laudiangco assured the electorate that they're prepared to deal with possible power interruptions.

In case of vote counting machines breaking down, he said Comelec has deployed technicians who can repair the defective VCMs on site. Poll officials may also call the national text support center for assistance.

Contingency VCMs may then be used if hardware issues cannot be resolved, Laudiangco said.

If all else fails, he said voting will go on, anyway, and everybody will be accommodated.

"Wala pong reason para huminto ang botohan, magkaroon man ng issue sa VCM," he said.

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has arrived with his son Sandro at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac in Ilocos Norte to cast his vote.

NOW: Bongbong Marcos casts his vote in Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac, Ilocos Norte. #BilangPilipino2022 | @edupunay pic.twitter.com/1Ytnff0DIZ

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 8, 2022

Marcos Jr. is following in the footsteps of his late dictator father Ferdinand Marcos, who was booted out of Malacañang after 20 years of martial rule.

Vice President Leni Robredo's daughters Aika and Tricia have arrived at the Tabuco Central School in Naga in Camarines Sur.

Their sister Jillian had already voted via overseas absentee voting, which kicked off last April 10.

Presidential candidate Sen. Ping Lacson has arrived at his polling precinct in Imus in Cavite.

Dumating na si presidential candidate Sen. Ping Lacson sa kaniyang polling precinct sa Imus, Cavite. #BilangPilipino2022 pic.twitter.com/feh4CFNPiH

— News5 (@News5PH) May 8, 2022

Having stayed in politics for 50 years, Lacson told reporters that the May 9 polls will either make or break his political career.

"Either I go to Malacañang or I go home," he said.

Lacson is lagging behind the election surveys. He got a 2% score from 2,400 respondents in the last Pulse Asia survey conducted from April 16 to 21 and released May 2.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reiterated that private sector employees are entitled to additional pay, as President Rodrigo Duterte declared May 9 as a special non-working holiday.

In a statement, DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello said those who are reporting for work today must receive an additional 30% in their basic wage on the first eight hours of work.

For work beyond the eight-hour duty, employees must receive an additional 30% of their hourly rate.

Those working during their day off shall be paid an additional 50% of their basic wage on the first eight hours. They must receive an additional 30% of their hourly rate for overtime.

Bello, however, noted that "no work, no pay" policy shall apply if employees will not report for work "unless there is a company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement granting payment on a special day," in accordance with Chapter III, Article 94 of the Labor Code.

Workers who are facing issues with underpayment and non-payment of proper wages may reach out to DOLE, he said.

The labor secretary also urged workers who are registered voters to exercise their right to suffrage.

Over 106,000 clustered precincts have opened at 6:00am for the 2022 national and local elections, though the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said not all municipalities can use vote counting machines (VCMs) after failing to conduct final testing and sealing (FTS).

COMELEX says all 106,164 clustered precincts will open for voting at 6:00am. However, some early voters might not be able to use Vote Counting Machines. @News5PH @onenewsph

— Greg Gregorio (@GVGregorio_TV5) May 8, 2022

Comelec acting spokesman Rex Laudiangco said Socorro in Oriental Mindoro and Silvino Lobos in Northen Samar failed to conduct FTS until yesterday, May 8.

Laudiangco noted that some teachers from 47 clustered precincts in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, meanwhile, backed out as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) due to reported confusion and alleged threats.

With that, some members of the Philippine National Police will act as substitute BEIs, according to the poll body official.