Robredo thanks Bersamin for clearing VP poll protest issues

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday thanked Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin for “setting the record straight” amid speculations surrounding the vice presidential poll protest.

Bersamin earlier assured the public that the that the poll protest of former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Robredo was not being rigged.

This came out after the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) allegedly moved to set aside its rule on the initial determination test on the three pilot provinces chosen by 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.

“We thank the Chief Justice as he himself set the record straight, explaining that there were no irregularities,” Robredo, speaking in Filipino, said in her weekly AM radio show, “BISErbisyong LENI.”

“We put our trust on the PET since that is what is right… We are hopeful that the protest will be resolved as soon as possible to end all the speculations,” she added.

The Supreme Court has deferred anew its action on the results of the examination of ballots from three pilot provinces selected by Marcos.

The deliberation was initially scheduled for Oct. 1 but was later moved for Oct. 8. The case is reportedly reset again for Oct. 15.

Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, the justice in charge of the case, submitted the report to the Supreme Court justices last Sept. 9.

Robredo beat Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential elections by over 260,000 votes.

Marcos questioned, however, the results 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.

/atm