Ramos Victory Confirmed in Philippines
A congressional committee said Tuesday that its review of returns from last month’s Philippine presidential election confirmed that former Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos had won.
The committee will forward its report to the full Congress, which officially proclaims the new president.
Supporters of the runner-up, Miriam Defensor Santiago, said they will ask the Supreme Court to order an investigation of what they say are suspicious returns before President Corazon Aquino leaves office June 30.
Ramos, who was supported by Aquino, led the seven-way race in the voting May 11 with 5.3 million votes, or about 23%, followed by Santiago with 4.5 million, or about 20%, and Eduardo Cojuangco with 4.1 million, or 18%, according to preliminary tallies.
Sen. Wigberto Tanada, co-chairman of the committee, said the review supports that outcome.
Homobono Adaza, lawyer for Santiago’s Peoples Reform Party, complained that the committee simply totaled figures and did not investigate cases where tally sheets showed erasures or other irregularities.
Adaza said certificates with irregularities accounted for 2.5 million votes, enough to change the outcome. He said most of the erasures “belong to Ramos.”
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