SC reschedules deliberation on Marcos protest vs Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has postponed to next week the initial deliberation on the election protest of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo.

It was learned that two justices are on leave—Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is on a two-week wellness leave while Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza is on sabbatical leave.

On the other hand, it was also learned that the justice assigned to handle the election protest requested that he be given more time to study the case.

Tuesday’s session of the Supreme Court and the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) was presided over by Acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio.

Marcos filed his protest against Robredo after the Vice President won by a margin of 263,473 votes.

Marcos wants PET to set aside Robredo’s proclamation./rga

READ: Marcos asks SC to set aside Robredo proclamation, files protest

Subject of his protest is the reopening of ballot boxes in each of the 36,465  clustered precincts in Cebu, Province of Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Masbate, Zamboanga Del Sur, Zamboanga Del Norte, Bukidnon, Iloilo Province, Bohol, Quezon Province, Batangas, Western Samar, Misamis Oriental, Camarnes Sur, 2nd District of Northern Samar, Palawan, Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, Pangasinan, Isabela, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and Zamboanga City.

Marcos is also asking the PET to annul the election results in Lanao Del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao where the ballots have been pre-shaded and a recount of votes in 22 provinces and five cities. RAM