FALSE: Bongbong Marcos finally shows evidence of fraud vs Robredo in July 2021

At a glance

• Claim: Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. revealed on July 19, 2021, evidence that Vice President Leni Robredo cheated in the 2016 national elections.
• Rating: FALSE
• The facts: In February 2021, the Supreme Court (SC) sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal unanimously dismissed the electoral protest filed by Marcos against Robredo. When Marcos alleged there was widespread fraud in Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Maguindanao, and the elections there should be annulled, the PET refused to fully investigate because rules do not allow it and Marcos failed to provide evidence of fraud.
• Why we fact-checked this: A YouTube video claiming this has gotten 116,765 views and 4,600 likes, as of writing. 

Complete details

A YouTube video published on July 19 by the channel “Filipino Future” claims that Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has “finally” revealed that Vice President Leni Robredo committed electoral fraud in the 2016 elections.

This was posted five months after the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, unanimously dismissed the poll protest that Marcos filed against Robredo in 2016.

The video was titled, “SA WAKAS! NAKAKAKILABOT NA MGA EBIDENSYA NG PANDARAYA NI LENI ROBREDO, SINIWALAT NI BONGBONG MARCOS!” (Finally! Evidence of Leni Robredo’s cheating will give you goosebumps, as revealed by Bongbong Marcos!)

As of writing, the video has 130,219 views. The channel “Filipino Future” has been fact-checked by Rappler multiple times.

This claim is false.

On February 16, the PET unanimously voted to dismiss Marcos’ protest. In the decision, the PET said that Marcos failed to prove his claims and that the “allegations appeared bare, laden with generic and repetitious allegations and lacked critical information” regarding the alleged irregularities.

Marcos had originally requested a recount in Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental, citing fraud. Marcos lost the recount in all three provinces.

Marcos then requested that, because of alleged fraud and terrorism, the results from Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Maguindanao, which used to make up the volatile Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), be voided.

The PET refused to fully investigate this claim, citing PET Rule 65, limiting the number of pilot provinces to three. In Marcos’ case, these were Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental.

The tribunal then said that Marcos was also unable to show convincing proof that there was indeed widespread fraud and terrorism. – Jose Atienza/Rappler.com

Jose Atienza is a Rappler intern. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s internship program here.

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