MANILA — Seven out of the ten senatorial candidates under Team DuterTEN of PDP-Laban are calling on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to conduct a manual recount of the votes cast in the recently concluded 2025 midterm elections.
In a press conference held on Saturday, May 17—the same day the proclamation of the 12 winning senators was conducted—the group, led by legal counsel Atty. Israelito Torreon, demanded a “full, independent, and transparent investigation” into alleged irregularities during the elections.
Torreon cited the reported 35 million overvotes that were not counted, which he said cast serious doubt on the credibility of the electoral process. “This significant number of overvotes requires serious scrutiny. We believe it undermines the integrity of the results,” he said.
Torreon is the legal counsel of detained televangelist and senatorial candidate Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing charges of human trafficking and sexual abuse. Quiboloy had earlier called for a manual recount even before the final canvassing concluded.
Also present at the press briefing were fellow senatorial candidates Atty. Jimmy Bondoc, Atty. Raul Lambino, Atty. Jayvee Hinlo, Dr. Richard Mata, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, and actor Philip Salvador.
Of the ten DuterTEN candidates, only three made it to the Magic 12: re-electionist Senators Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, and SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta.
The group has yet to formally file a petition before the COMELEC but said they are currently consolidating all supporting documents for their case.