Denial of Marcos motion elates Robredo camp

Vice President Leni Robredo (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Vice President Leni Robredo’s lawyer said the refusal of the court to grant former senator Bongbong Marcos’ motion for a technical examination of election documents in three Mindanao provinces has narrowed his chances of pursuing his electoral protest.

The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), denied Marcos’ appeal for a technical examination of voters’ records in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan to bolster his electoral protest against Robredo.

“The denial by the PET of Marcos’ motion for technical examination of certain election documents from Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan has greatly affected his chances of pursuing his protest,” lawyer Romulo Macalintal said in a statement on Monday.

Macalintal explained that the merits of Marcos’ electoral protest “would be initially determined based on the results of the said recount of ballots from Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental which, as stated would not have any material effect on the official count when Robredo was declared winner.”

The PET is scheduled to conduct a ballot recount in three pilot provinces Marcos has chosen in his electoral protest. These are Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

For Macalintal, the ballot recount will come out in favor of Robredo. “Wala pang nananalo sa isang recount sa isang electoral protest,” he said in an ambush interview.

“As such, Marcos’ protest faces its apparent dismissal,” Macalintal stressed, explaining that his protest will be junked if he could not prove any substantial recovery in the upcoming ballot recount in three provinces.

“He cannot change or add to these 3 provinces as it is not allowed by the PET Rules,” Macalintal said.