Marcos told: Seek reelection after 3 years instead of filing poll protest

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal who is representing leading vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo shows to the media an authentic copy of a provincial certificate of canvass in a press briefing at the Liberal Party headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal has a word of advice for defeated vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.: Don’t file an electoral protest. Instead, run for senator again after three years.

Macalintal, who is representing Vice President-elect Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, said if he were Marcos’ counsel, he would tell the senator that the latter would just waste time and money if he pursued an electoral protest against Robredo, who won by a fairly slim 263,473 votes over Marcos.

READ: Marcos camp ‘respects’ process, but preparing for next move

“I speak not as a lawyer of Ms. Robredo, I speak as an election lawyer. Kung ako ang magpapayo sa kanya, hindi ko na itutuloy kasi matagal lamang ang nasabing proseso, napakalaki ng kanyang gagastusin, aabutin ng P100 million (If I were to counsel him, I won’t push for [an electoral protest] because the process would take a long time and he would have to spend an exorbitant amount, up to P100 million),” Macalintal said in a forum at the Manila Hotel on Monday.

“By the time na matapos ito siguro mga 3 years, election na naman for the Senate. Baka interesado pa siyang tumakbo for senator. Kapag tumakbo siya sa Senado after 3 years, mababale wala na ang kanyang protesta,” Macalintal added.

(By the time the protest is over, around 3 years, it’s elections for the Senate. He might be interested to run for senator. If he runs for senator, his protest would be nullified)

Marcos’ term will end on June 30. He can seek reelection after three years.

But Macalintal reiterated that it is still a right of Marcos to file a complaint.

He also rejected the claims of whistle-blowers who exposed the alleged manipulation of votes in Quezon province to favor Robredo and her running mate, losing presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

READ: Admin official ordered us to manipulate votes—alleged witnesses

The veteral election lawyer, whose former clients included former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said he would surrender his license if the alleged poll fraud in the province would be proven true.

“Hindi iyon totoo. Ang mga ganoon ay haka haka lamang. Kaya katulad ng sinabi ko sa kanina, ang mga nagsasabi na may whistle-blowers na kaya nila mag transmit ng maraming boto para kay Ms. Robredo and other candidates, sinasabi ko at inuulit ko na kapag ito ay napatunayan nila na totoo ay ibabalik ko ang aking lisensya bilang isang abugado,” he said. RAM/rga

(That is not true. Those are just allegations. As I said earlier, those who claim that they are whistle-blowers who transmitted more votes for Ms. Robredo and other candidates, I say and reiterate that if these were proven true, I would surrender my license as a lawyer.)