MANILA, Philippines – Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos on Tuesday hit the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo for claiming early victory in the electoral protest he filed after the 2016 vice presidential race.
“We are appalled once more by the brazenness of Mrs. Robredo and her Liberal Party in claiming victory in my still ongoing election protest just as the tribunal announced that no action has been taken by the court on the Caguioa report,” Marcos said in a statement.
Marcos’ issued the statement after Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa submitted to the Supreme Court, which sits as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), his report on the result of the pilot recount from three pilot provinces that Marcos cited in his electoral protest.
READ: Marcos vs Robredo: Results of ballot revision submitted to SC
“Clearly, there has been a concerted effort to intimidate and coerce the Tribunal with their underhanded mind conditioning tactics,” Marcos said.
Lawyer Brian Keith Hosaka, the high court’s public information chief, clarified that the Tribunal “has not taken any action yet on the said report.”
Marcos said he has also yet to receive any formal notice or decision from the PET regarding the issue.
“We assure the Tribunal of our commitment to abide by the subjudice rule as what we have always done,” the former senator said.
Romulo Macalintal, legal counsel for Robredo, said the report would determine the next step of the protest.
“Kung walang makitang pagbabago o substantial recovery, talagan idi-dismiss ng Korte Suprema ang kanilang protesta. Pero kung may makita naman na mayroong substantial recovery, itutuloy ang protesta,” Macalintal explained.
As early as July, Robredo’s camp prodded the PET to resolve the election protest, claiming that “the result of the revision, recount and re-appreciation of the ballots clearly confirm the victory of protestee Robredo.” /gsg
READ: Robredo camp sees confirmation of win, urges PET to decide on Marcos protest