Marcos supporters gather in Luneta amid Plan B allegation

MANILA, Philippines- Amid cheating allegations against leading vice-presidential candidate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, supporters of vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. have gathered at Rizal Park in Manila to express solidarity.

Over 100 supporters, mostly wearing red shirts, came together after a plea urging Marcos’ supporters to “occupy Luneta” beginning 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 11 was posted on Facebook.

BBM supporters express solidarity as they occupy Luneta Park. PHOTO CREDIT: Inquirer

On Tuesday, May 10, Marcos alleged irregularities in the partial and unofficial counting of the votes for the vice-presidential race claiming that the Aquino administration’s plan B is in full swing.

Marcos said: “Talagang yung napapag-usapan na Plan B ay mukhang talagang itinutuloy nila dahil iniiipit ang pag-transmit ng ibang mga boto na galing sa balwarte ko parang pinapalabas na nangunguna si Cong. Robredo.”

(They are really pushing Plan B and they are preventing the transmission of votes from my stronghold to make it appear that Cong. Robredo is leading.)

Earlier, the Ilocano lawmaker revealed Liberal Party’s alleged Plan B to ensure that President Benigno Aquino III will not end up in jail after the National Elections.

“The Plan B is to ensure victory for Leni Robredo and remove Duterte via impeachment. In this way, Noynoy [the President’s nickname] and his minions will avoid being jailed,” Marcos revealed in a news conference.

Meanwhile, Marcos’ running mate and losing presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has also accused the administration of “manufacturing numbers” for Robredo.

In a statement sent to reporters, Santiago said: “The roller coaster ride of vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. invites comparison with a garrison state. In such a state, the authoritarian government feels free to manufacture numbers as they are needed.”

Political analyst Jan Robert Go, on the other hand, believes that there is no reason to doubt the vice presidential results if you trust the partial and unofficial presidential tally.

Go explained: "When you put in the ballot, it (vote counting machine) reads the same ballot. The same machine receives the ballot ... And we have not heard of any complaints about the manifest in the receipts.”

--Mini, The Summit Express

Noli de Castro allegedly discriminates transwoman politician

MANILA, Philippines - Former Vice President Noli De Castro might have retired from politics six years ago. He's now back to broadcasting after his government tenure. Many say, you're pretty much liberated outside politics. Free from stress, nationwide obligations, death threats, false allegations and controversy.

Netizens react on Kabayan’s alleged discriminatory comments to PH's first ever transgender politician.
Photo Credit: CNN/DZMM

De Castro, who is also popular to all Filipino people as "Kabayan" indeed enjoys being a news anchor and obviously his biggest passion.

But couple of days after the national elections, Kabayan was all of a sudden dipped into a pool of controversy by unconsciously uttering discriminatory remarks towards proclaimed First Legislative District of Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman during his DZMM morning radio program.

Noli “Kabayan” De Castro on air.

Roman has just cemented a history in Philippine politics for being the country's first ever transwoman in the congress. Immediately after Geraldine's official proclamation at COMELEC Bataan provincial office, global news leaders like CNN released their articles about the first Transgender Politician in Philippines.

The world lauded Geraldine Roman as the Philippines’ first ever transgender politician.

Voters have made history in the Philippines, electing their first ever transgender politician to the House of Representatives. Liberal Party candidate #GeraldineRoman trounced her closest rival in the congressional district of Bataan, winning 62% of the unofficial vote count with 99% of precincts reporting. It's a significant milestone for the #LGBT community in the Catholic-dominated Philippines, where gays, lesbians and transgenders have been publicly ridiculed by some politicians and public figures. #Phillipines #election2016

A photo posted by CNN (@cnn) on May 10, 2016 at 4:43am PDT

LGBT and politics have been a hot nationwide issue recently. Few months ago, Pinoy Pride and Boxing Ring Icon, Cong. Manny Pacquiao expressed his thoughts on same sex marriage where Pacman unintentionally made a statement towards the LGBT community, branding the same sex union as animalistic. It quickly escalated and gathered millions of negative feedback from the netizens. A handful of prominent personalities like Boy Abunda, Aiza Seguerra, Vice Ganda and Dave “Batista” Bautista just to name a few vented their ire and frustration on Pacquiao. Manny felt the ill-impact on various senatorial surveys as his rating drastically dropped by huge percentage.

Morning of May 11, 2016 during his live radio program, De Castro allegedly commented on Geraldine Roman's congressional seat topic: "Hindi sya woman, hindi sya man, e di congressperson."

And just like that, the veteran broadcaster was peppered by negative feedback on all social media platforms just like Pacquiao.

ANG TANONG KO SAYO Ano ang tawag sa transgender na Congressman？Congressperson daw ba？ayon kay Noli de Castro

— blue_26_rose (@blue_26_rose) May 11, 2016

As of posting, neither De Castro nor Roman hasn’t released any statement with regards to the said sensitive issue. No celebrities or politicians have shared their sentiments on both camps as well.

Regardless whose side are the netizens on; this will be a long and trending topic especially nowadays that we're all in the heat of post election period. One thing is also for sure; this will reach the international media scene and will place Philippines in the lime light again along with the controversial and newly elected President.

The Summit Express will be on standby to bring you Noli De Castro and Geraldine Roman's response.

--Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express