MANILA, Philippines — For Senator Francis Pangilinan, affirming the win of Vice President Leni Robredo’s in the 2016 elections means safeguarding the country’s democracy, as well as the votes of over 14 million Filipinos who backed her run for the second-highest post in the government.
Pangilinan said this Tuesday amid the electoral protest of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who lost to Robredo in the 2016 vice presidential elections.
“Panahon ulit para ipakita ang ating lakas at magkaisang ipagtanggol si Vice President Leni Robredo habang hinihintay natin ang pasya ng Presidential Electoral Tribunal sa votes recount,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
[It is time to show our strength and unite to protect Vice President Leni Robredo as we await the decision of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal on the vote recount.]
“She has won the elections fair and square. Her army of volunteers and hardworking supporters and the people’s desire for a true public servant who will stand her ground helped propel her to victory in the May elections,” the senator added.
Pangilinan said that over the last three years of Robredo’s stint as the country’s Vice President, she proved that she is worthy of the post despite efforts to minimize her capabilities.
The senator added that Robredo is “pro-poor, honest, and hardworking.”
“We are hopeful that the evidence will back her up and the wisdom of the magistrates will rule in confirming her victory, so that she could continue to work and make things better for the nation,” Pangilinan said.
Robredo beat Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential elections by over 260,000 votes.
Marcos questioned the results of the elections and filed an electoral protest as he claimed irregularities in thousands of election precincts in the provinces of Iloilo, Negros Oriental, and Camarines Sur.
The results of the examination of ballots from the three provinces have been submitted to the Supreme Court which seats as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. /muf