LP senators swipe Bongbong’s selective appreciation of PET rulings

Sen Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (left), Sen. Franklin Drilon (center), and Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino (right).  (INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS)

Three Liberal Party (LP) senators slammed former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday for questioning the credibility of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), one of them even saying that the latter must learn to accept the tribunal’s decision on his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

On Wednesday, Marcos accused the PET of being unfair in handling his election protest against Robredo.

“Mukhang ‘di na fair ang treatment sa akin sa PET (Looks like PET is no longer treating me fairly),” the former senator said at the regular “Kapihan sa Manila Bay” forum. “It is biased against me and biased for my opposition.”

READ: Marcos accuses PET of being unfair; wants change of chairmanship

Reacting to Marcos’ remarks, Senator and LP president Francis Pangilinan said in a statement: “Hindi maganda na kwestyunin mo ang kredibilidad ng PET kung hindi pabor sa iyo ang mga desisyon.

Another LP member, Senator Bam Aquino, said it would be “unfair” for Marcos to cast doubt on the integrity of the PET, composed of Supreme Court justices, when decisions do not go his way.

“Bakit noong puro pabor sa kanya ang desisyon, may narinig ba siyang reklamo mula kay Vice President Leni Robredo,” Aquino asked in the same statement.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the namesake and son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos must learn to accept the decision of the PET, whether adverse or in his favor.

“It’s part of our judicial process. Sometimes, we may get the short end of the stick, but that’s the way court processes go and as a former lawmaker, he should know better,” Drilon said.

The LP senators also scoffed at Marcos’ reported statement that seeking to replace the chairperson of the PET could be one option that he would take to end the alleged “unfair and unjust” handling of his election protest against Robredo.
But just last September, the LP senators noted that Marcos’ camp lauded the PET after it denied with finality Robredo’s bid to reverse its earlier ruling finding sufficiency in his election protest.

“Now he (Marcos) wants to have the PET chairperson replaced,” the senators said.   /kga