Group feels uneasy over SC’s inaction on Bongbong’s poll protest

MANILA, Philippines – A group critical of the Marcoses has expressed concern on the alleged inaction of the Supreme Court (SC) on the electoral protest lodged by former senator Bongbong Marcos against incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo.

According to the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA), they are ‘wary’ over the deference of the SC to decide on the issue, claiming that the Marcoses have a history of tainting the country’s democracy.

“Despite the fact that the SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has already finished recounting the ballots of 5,415 precincts of the 3 pilot provinces (Iloilo, Negros Oriental, and Camarines Sur), the Supreme Court en banc still has not made any action,” CARMMA said in a statement on Tuesday.

“This inaction of the SC makes us wary. CARMMA is a witness of how the Marcoses subverted our democratic institutions to maintain their stranglehold on the government, entrenched themselves in Malacañang, while emptying our nation’s coffers,” they added.

Last October 1, it was reported that SC was set to release its initial decision on the recount of the three provinces, but it was eventually deferred to Tuesday, October 8.  However, the SC en banc on Tuesday decided to again defer the release of the decision, this time to October 15.

JUST IN: PET has decided to reset to Oct. 15 the deliberation and voting on the poll protest of BBM vs. VP Leni Robredo. @inquirerdotnet

— Tetch Torres-Tupas (@tetchtorres) October 8, 2019

Robredo said in an ambush interview last October 1 that they are looking forward to a favorable decision and would like the issue to be finished, claiming that it is being used as a platform for propaganda by the opposing camp.

READ: Robredo ‘hopeful’ amid possible decision on Bongbong’s electoral protest

READ: SC to release report on Marcos Jr. poll protest ‘very soon’ 

READ: PET defers discussion on Marcos poll protest

However, not only groups supportive of Robredo or against the Marcoses have anticipated the PET decision.  According to Marcos’ spokesperson lawyer Vic Rodriguez, they were also waiting for the PET decision.

“Like everyone else, we also patiently waited for the PET decision that was moved again to the 15th. Until then we have no statement to make in deference to the PET and the honorable justices,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

Still, amid the pendency of the protest, CARMMA also underscored that the Marcos allegedly have been able to evade justice, with former First Lady Imelda Marcos being allowed to post bail even if she was convicted of seven counts of graft last November 2018.

“We are very aware of the Marcoses intent – a complete return to the highest seat of power, and their complete rehabilitation. They want the Marcos electoral protest to be their gold-lined path towards a comeback,” CARRMA said.

But CARMMA, together with the people, has been and will keep on raising our voices. We must not allow this to happen. #NeverAgain. #NeverForget,” they added.  /muf