PET action on Marcos poll protest vs Robredo: ‘Nothing definite yet’

MANILA, Philippines–Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin on Thursday said there’s still nothing definite on the poll protest of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo.

“There is no definite voting yet or anything that happened in that particular case,” Bersamin told reporters when asked about a report that the Supreme Court justices, sitting as PET, voted 8-6 in favor of Marcos.

The report, quoting sources, said the PET ruling has set aside its rule on initial determination test on the three pilot provinces chosen by Marcos and has decided to continue with the recount of the remaining 22 provinces and five highly urbanized cities which were subject of the protest.

Earlier, Supreme Court’s Public Information Chief and Spokesperson Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka confirmed that Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa has already submitted a report on the revision result on Marcos’ pilot provinces.

“We will have to study this report and that takes time,” said Bersamin.

“A report is a report. Other justices, there are 14 others who will probably look at that report and study very carefully. Now, if there are contrary opinions on that report, that is another matter so deliberation will require us to sit down and comment on some aspects of the report,” Bersamin said explaining the process during the en banc or full court session.

The Chief Magistrate said once a report is submitted, they cannot just adopt or approve it.

“It is not automatic,” he said.

Bersamin added that he cannot also commit that there will be a resolution on the poll protest before he retires on Oct. 18.

“My retirement does not demand from the other justices that we should act any kind of case is bigger than any single justice…We must respect the opinion of 14 others. The one who is retiring is only one of the 15 so unimportant yan,” Bersamin said./ac

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