‘Fake news’: Comelec says counting of overseas votes has not started yet (Sabong News)

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, April 20, belied erroneous reports claiming that the counting of overseas votes has already begun, saying all votes will be counted altogether on May 9. Comelec Commissioner George Erwin M. Garcia has tagged the erroneous report as nothing but “fake news.” “Hindi po totoo ‘yung mga kumakalat na every day daw po ay binibilang ang boto, fake news po iyan (It is not true that votes are being tallied every day, that’s fake news),” he said during a DZMM radio interview. Garcia explained that all votes—whether cast overseas— will all be counted on May 9. “Ang pagbilang po ng boto ay lahat nangyayari sa Mayo 9 lang, sabay-sabay po iyan, sa buong mundo, kahit po rito sa ating bansa, sabay-sabay po iyan (The counting of votes will take place on May 9, altogether),” the poll commissioner said. Meanwhile, he cautioned voters about exit polls, telling them not to believe in them so much as all candidates may all come up with exit polls declaring they are all leading the race. Voters must vote based on their conscience and what is in their hearts and minds and not because of who is allegedly leading exit polls, Garcia suggested. On April 10, the overseas voting for the May 2022 elections started. The voting period will last until May 9.