SC’s Bersamin on VP poll protest: ‘Don’t worry, ‘di ko niluluto‘

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin on Thursday assured that the poll protest of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo is not being rigged.

“Don’t worry ‘di ko niluluto, di pwede lutuin ‘yan,” Bersamin told reporters.

(Don’t worry. I am not rigging it, it cannot be rigged.)

Bersamin said the Supreme Court en banc is still discussing “many other things” about the case. He, however, did not elaborate, saying he is bound by confidentiality.

“We are expected to have a result by next week, it may not be what you expect. We are still discussing many other things, so that’s all I can tell you,” Bersamin said.

“I know everybody is so keen expecting some announcements… but you know the [en] banc is very deliberate about serious matters. This is a matter of national impact so that is all I can share with you,” he added.

The Supreme Court sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) has deferred anew its action on the results of its initial examination of ballots from three pilot provinces selected by Marcos.

The deliberation was initially scheduled on October 1 but was later moved to October 8. The case is reportedly reset again to October 15.

Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, the justice in charge of the case, submitted the report to the Supreme Court justices last September 9.

Asked if there will be voting on October 15, Bersamin said the public can expect “something definite about certain things.”

“I have to tell you I am doing it on purpose to be vague. I am bound by confidentiality. I cannot bring you into the [en] banc otherwise we would make our deliberations public,” Bersamin said.

“We have certain rules to follow on non-disclosure and I am very careful not to infringe those rules because I am the leader of the Court and if I would be so loquacious or talkative about what we are doing there,” he added. /kga