MANILA, Philippines – Vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Monday evening, May 9, that he is not yet confident about his lead in the partial results of the elections.

Based on 74% results transmision as of 10:48 pm, Marcos has 36% of the votes, equivalent to 11.3 million votes. Less than a million away is administration bet Leni Robredo, with 34% or 10.63 million votes.

In a press conference early evening at his campaign headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Marcos said it was premature to celebrate because he has yet to see a “comfortable lead.” 

“Now, I’m at a loss. I don’t know. When I take my oath, I will be relieved,” he told reporters. 

Marcos said Monday morning when he cast his vote in Batac, Ilocos Norte, that he was confident he would win. In his miting de avance last Thursday, May 5, he also said that only cheating would make him lose the elections. 

In the last week of his campaign, the senator reminded his supporters to guard his votes amid reports of discrepancies in votes cast and votes reflected in the receipts in overseas absentee voting. 

He has also accused the ruling Liberal Party of conditioning the minds of the electorate by rigging pre-election surveys. In the last ABS-CBN survey conducted by Pulse Asia, the senator lost the top spot to Robredo. – Rappler.com