Bongbong says Leonen was never sympathetic to his family

Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — “I don’t think Justice Leonen will help us, he has never been sympathetic to me or my family on this protest.”

Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said this Saturday about Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, referring to the electoral protest Marcos filed against Vice President Leni Robredo.

Leonen took charge of the electoral protest back in October after Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, who was former ponente or member-in-charge of the electoral case, dissented from the majority in the recent vote in the poll protest.

Nonetheless, Marcos, son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, said he hopes the protest will be on his favor.

“I don’t know how we will handle it. Nonetheless, we still have [11-2 vote] inaasahan ko yung [I am hoping for the 11-2 vote] 11-2 na boto, basta sa atin ang majority.. [of course we get the majority vote],”  he said in an “In Focus” forum at Quezon City.

In 2016, Marcos filed an electoral protest against Robredo to question the results of the 2016 vice presidential polls.

In October, the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, voted 11-2 to defer the decision whether or not it will dismiss or proceed with the case.

Edited by JPV