POLL PROTEST | SC asks vice president to respond to rival’s appeal in poll protest

June 28, 2021 , 07:33 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(June 28, 2021) – The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, ordered the vice president to respond to an appeal by her rival challenging the dismissal of an election protest.

The high court had asked Leonor Robredo to make a rebuttal on a fresh appeal made last month by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr before it decides on the move, said spokesman Brian Kieth Hosaka.

She was given 10 days to make a comment upon receiving the court resolution.

The PET had unanimously dismissed, in February, Marcos’ poll protest because it lacked sufficient basis to support claims of fraud in the 2016 elections.

Robredo won the vice presidential elections by a narrow margin of more than 240,000 votes, defeating the only son and namesake of the late dictator. He filed a protest but after an initial recount, Robredo’s margin widened.

In its 92-page decision, the PET said Marcos would still lose even if the results in three Muslim provinces in the south—Maguindanao, Basilan, and Lanao del Sur—will be annulled. Robredo would still top the vice presidential race by 15,130 votes.

But Marcos, in another motion, refused to back down, arguing the electoral tribunal erred in ignoring his third cause of action. He said the annulment of votes should be treated separately from his recount request in Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental, insisting it does not violate Rule 65.

Marcos said the PET should not turn a blind eye to the alleged widespread violence, threats, terrorism, intimidation, as well as pre-shaded ballots in these three provinces. He also said the tribunal should have allowed him to present his evidence to substantiate his allegations instead of junking his protest in full.

“The existence or non-existence of procedural rules should never be an obstacle in ascertaining who the voters chose to be their leaders. What is important is that the true will of the electorate will be heard,” Marcos had earlier said.

Robredo’s lawyers previously called Marcos “the luckiest man in the world” if he could persuade the PET to reconsider its earlier decision based on rehashed arguments.

Both Robredo and Marcos are rumored to be planning to run for a national position next year but there will be no rematch if the vice president seeks the presidency and Marcos will run as vice president for Sara Duterte-Carpio.

No politicians have announced definite plans to seek public office next year.

(MM)

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