MANILA, Philippines — The parties in the vice presidential poll protest pending before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) were reminded anew Wednesday to refrain from making public statements regarding the case.
Supreme Court Public Information Office Chief Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka issued the reminder after Vice President Leni Robredo’s lead counsel, Atty. Romulo Macalintal, discussed in a radio interview the PET’s alleged move to set aside its rule on initial determination test on the three pilot provinces chosen by former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and opted to continue with the recount of the remaining 22 provinces and five highly urbanized cities, which were subject of the protest.
The Supreme Court sits as PET.
“Gusto ko po ulit ipaalala sa mga parties at sa kanilang mga abugado na galangin po sana nila ang utos ng korte na wag mag kumento o magsalita sa media tungkol sa kaso ayon sa ‘sub judice rule,’” Hosaka said in a statement.
(I want to remind the parties and their lawyers to respect the order of the Court not to issue comments to the media regarding the case as per the sub judice rule.)
Further, Hosaka said that the justices are the only ones aware of the contents of the report on the result of the recount of the three pilot provinces as they are confidential.
“Bilang tagapagsalita ng Korte Suprema, hindi po ako pwede magsalita base sa haka-haka o bali-balita po lamang. Gaya po ng korte, kailangan po ang aking sasabihin ay ayon sa batas at ebidensiya,” Hosaka said.
(As the spokesperson of the Supreme Court, I cannot speak based on allegations alone. Like in Court, the remarks I would issue should be based on law and evidence.)
“Ang pinag uusapan po dito sa kasong ito ay ang pangalawang pinakamataas na pinuno ng ating bansa, at kung sino ang tunay at totoong pinili ng taong bayan na bise president na ayon sa batas. Kaya po siguro dapat lamang ay pag aralan ng mabuti at maingat ng ating mga Justices ang bawat issue at ebidensiya ng kaso,” he added.
(What we are discussing in this case is the second highest government post in the country, and who the people chose as the Vice President according to the law. I think it is only right for our justices to study the issues and evidence of the case thoroughly.)
In a said radio interview, Macalintal said it is not right for the protest to continue if there were no substantial evidence found from the recount of the three pilot provinces.
“May mga bali-balita na mukhang kahit walang substantial [evidence], itutuloy raw. Parang hindi ata tama iyan dahil sa ilalim ng rules, ‘pag wala kang nakita sa 3 probinsya, idi-dismiss iyan… Bakit ang pinakamataas pang korte ang mukhang ayaw, hindi gagamit ng nasabing rules,” Macalintal said.
(There are rumors that even though there is no substantial evidence, the recount will continue. I think it is not right since under the rules, when no irregularities were found in the three pilot provinces, the protest would be dismissed. Why does it look like it is the highest Court in the country that seems to not apply the said rule.)
READ: Robredo prods PET to release initial recount results to avoid speculations
Macalintal had also asked the PET to release a copy of the summary and committee reports on the revision, recount, and re-appreciation of ballots from three pilot provinces to avoid speculations.
Gag order
The camps of Robredo and Marcos had previously been fined after violating the gag order that prohibits them to publicly discuss vice presidential election protest.
READ: Robredo, Marcos both fined for violating gag order; Bongbong honors payment
Robredo beat Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential elections by over 260,000 votes.
Marcos, however, questioned the results of the elections and filed an electoral protest.
The results of the examination of ballots from the three provinces have been submitted to the Supreme Court sitting as the PET. /jpv