Manila, 16 May 2016 – Election day tensions have yet to cease in the camps of Vice Presidential candidates Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) and BongBong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) as both claim pole position in the VP race with less than 15% of the national votes remaining to be counted.
From May 8th to 12th (before and after Election Day), Filipinos sent over 1.1 million Tweets in support of Leni versus a total of 1 million Tweets in support of Bongbong. Robredo’s Twitter conversation peaked at 940 Tweets per minute at 3:27am May 10th as her camp reacted positively to her lead in the early voting results, while Marcos’ Twitter conversation peaked at 1,100 Tweets per minute at 3:22pm May 10th when his camp speculated about voting irregularities and pushed for a recount.
The race’s initial turnout looked like an even fight between the six VP candidates with Marcos taking the lead and Robredo behind him. Twitter conversations soared when Robredo’s numbers started increasing closely tying with Marcos, overtaking him overnight as votes from Visayas were already being transmitted.
Palapit na tayo. Ayon sa projections, mananalo tayo. Walang bibitiw. Sa huli, ang tama ang mananaig. Dasal pa tayo. #LabanLeni
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) 9 May 2016
The voice of the greater good. Stay strong #BBM4VP pic.twitter.com/bLaNOAWOj5
— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) 10 May 2016
As usual, Filipinos poked fun at the incident while others did not take too kindly to Robredo’s startling sprint to the lead.
Na Bongbong Marcos ka na ba? Yung natulog ka lang saglit tapos paggising mo pinalitan ka na.
— Kuya Jobert (@SiKuyaJobert) 10 May 2016
Despite the humor surrounding the surprise, many from the Marcos camp demanded a recount using the hashtag, #RecountVP to express their sentiments. One of the most ReTweeted Tweets was from the son of Marcos himself, Sandro Marcos (@sandromarcos7), who had been actively campaigning for his father.
Please keep in mind the OFW exit polls had a Duterte-Marcos win by far, if something else comes out later, then something is up.
— Sandro Marcos (@sandromarcos7) 10 May 2016
People say we should respect the result.
But what if the results aren’t right? If its cheating. Its not respectable. #BBM4VP— fassy ♥ (@asdfghjxxl) 10 May 2016
Tweeting History Lessons
While the Marcos camp protested the early results of the elections, Robredo’s supporters stayed hopeful.
LENI PLEASE COME THRU. YOU ARE DUTERTE’S ANTITHESIS. YOU ARE THE BALANCING FACTOR. YOU ARE THE AVATAR IN OUR FIRE-NATION. PLEASE.
— Mad Teddy (@MiguelPoblador) 9 May 2016
While #LabanLeni continues, takes lead, we know who’s the happiest person in heaven right now. This is for you, too. pic.twitter.com/yMtwmklr6o
— Prim Paypon (@primpaypon) 9 May 2016
Some people also Tweeted reminders to the public of the Martial Law era and warned them of possible consequences should another Marcos inch toward the presidential seat.
To all Marcos apologists, here are the reasons why BBM is also accountable during Martial Law. #NoToBBM #NeverAgain pic.twitter.com/J0j7uLFPJP
— Jason Cydrick Gupo (@CydrickAcid) 10 May 2016
You can continue to get live updates about the VP election results and conversations on Twitter by following these accounts and hashtags:
For Leni Robredo:
- Congresswoman Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo)
- #LebanLeni
- #LeniIsMyVP
- #LeniTheRealVP
- #Robredo2016
- #NeverAgain
For Bongbong Marcos:
- Senator Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos)
- #LabanMarcos
- #BBM4VP
- #BongBong4VP
- #BBM2016
- #RecountVP
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