PET defers discussion on Marcos poll protest

Supreme Court of the Philippines. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Supreme Court sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) has deferred action on the results of the examination of ballots from three pilot provinces cited by former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in his electoral protest against Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo.

The result of the examination of ballots is contained in the report of Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, the justice in-charge of the case.

“I would like to inform you that the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) has deferred action on the report of Justice Caguioa,” High Court’s Public Information Chief and Spokesperson Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka said Tuesday.

On Sept. 9, Caguioa submitted his report to the PET on the results of the revision of ballots.

Deliberation on the matter, according to a source, is set on Oct. 8.

In his electoral protest, Marcos said he can prove that irregularities marred the conduct of the 2016 elections in the said provinces. Marcos has chosen three pilot provinces–Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

It is now up for PET to decide, based on Caguioa’s report about the pilot provinces whether to proceed with the vote revision on 39,221 clustered precincts covering 27 provinces and cities identified in Marcos election protest. /jpv

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