Seems skeptical: Mike Rama questions authenticity of 2025 election results
Rewritten Article:
Michael Rama, the ex-mayor of Cebu City, flipped the script during a media chat, directing questions toward reporters about the election outcomes, following his third-place finish in the local race.
Rama cast doubts on the election results, notably the losses of incumbent councilors Jocelyn Pesquera and Noel Wenceslao.
"How on earth do veterans, who've served for almost 20 years, lose out? That's the real predicament here," he stated.
Two advertisements followed, and afterward, Rama lamented that many members of Partido Barug missed out on securing council seats. He found the outcomes unexpected.
"It's downright disheartening seeing so many of our colleagues fall short," he announced at a press conference on May 13, 2025.
"Given what we've been through, it's hard to swallow these results," he added.
Rama renewed his plea for transparent elections, advocating for a hybrid canvassing system that mixes manual counting at polling stations with automated transmission to the central office.
"We should count the votes at the polling place before they even reach the province or the social hall," he said.
He also added that if automated counting machines are still used in future elections, he wouldn't run for any position.
Meanwhile, Mikel Rama, Michael's son, shared a blend of gratitude and disappointment over the election results.
Michael Rama hasn't acknowledged any specific reasons for questioning Jocelyn Pesquera and Noel Wenceslao's losses. However, recent concerns surrounding voting irregularities, delays, and machine glitches have been the driving force behind his skepticism towards the credibility of the electoral process[1][4]. The frustration stems mainly from technical issues encountered during the polls, such as delays during his own voting process, and a voter complaint about a printed ballot displaying a different candidate than the one selected[1][4]. Consequently, Rama has vowed to challenge the results via legal means[1][4].
"In the aftermath of the Cebu City elections, Michael Rama, the former mayor, expressed concern over the losses of long-serving incumbent councilors Jocelyn Pesquera and Noel Wenceslao, questioning their election outcomes. This unease is attributed to recent concerns about voting irregularities, delays, and machine glitches, which have fueled skepticism about the electoral process."
"Michael Rama has advocated for a hybrid canvassing system that integrates manual counting at polling stations with automated transmission to the central office, aiming to ensure transparency and reduce possible technical issues in future elections, as he reiterates his intention to challenge the results via legal means."
