Robredo respects denial of bid to end poll protest; says it’s ‘no victory’ for Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — Although “extremely disappointed,” Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo’s camp on Thursday said they respect the decision of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) denying her motion to end the poll protest filed against her by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.

But Atty. Ma. Bernadette Sardillo, Robredo’s legal counsel, quickly pointed out that the camp of former senator Marcos cannot claim victory over the decision of the Supreme Court sitting as PET.

“Marcos cannot claim victory as the PET only put its decision on hold to validate and confirm the results of the recount from the three pilot provinces,” Sardillo said in a statement.

“In addition, the PET also puts on hold the request of the Marcoses for annulment, which is in accordance with its rules,” she added.

READ: PET refuses to dismiss Marcos’ poll protest: Robredo’s claim of victory ‘premature’

Sardillo maintained that their motion for an immediate resolution in connection with the election protest of losing candidate Marcos was anchored on the fact that the former senator  has not proven anything.

“In fact, VP Leni has gained additional votes from the recount,” the lawyer added.

Robredo pushed for the immediate resolution of the case to prevent Marcos’ camp “from spreading misinformation and propaganda to deceive the public about the genuine results of the 2016 elections, which they have been doing from the beginning of this process,” her counsel further argued.

“In the end, we are confident that Vice President Robredo will be vindicated and her victory confirmed,” Sardillo stressed.

In her urgent motion last June, Robredo told the PET there was a need to resolve all the pending incidents as she claimed her lead against Marcos even increased by more than 15,000 votes after the revision, recount and re-appreciation of the ballots in the three pilot provinces of Iloilo, Negros Oriental and Camarines Sur where Marcos earlier said he can prove that irregularities marred the conduct of the 2016 elections.

READ: Robredo camp sees confirmation of win, urges PET to decide on Marcos protest

But the PET struck down her motion and called her arguments “speculative” and “premature.”

“The Tribunal has yet to complete the proceedings following Rule 65 the 2010 PET rules, which entails judicial recount, revision and appreciation of the votes cast in protestant’s [Marcos’] pilot provinces,” it added. /muf