Marcos lawyer to Leni: Focus on own case, not on our choice of pilot provinces
MANILA, Philippines – Instead of questioning former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos on his choice of three pilot provinces to be the focus of his poll protest, Vice President Leni Robredo should instead concentrate on her own case.
This was the advice given by Marcos lawyer Vic Rodriguez after Robredo alleged that the camp of the former senator is now looking at other provinces for possible recounts as it had failed to recover substantial votes from the three pilot provinces.
Marcos earlier picked the pilot areas of Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental. Iloilo and Negros Oriental are known bailiwicks of Robredo’s Liberal Party while her hometown of Naga City is the capital of Camarines Sur.
“First of all, the election protest is the case of (former) senator Marcos. Why is she appearing to know more than Marcos on what provinces we would choose?” Rodriguez asked.
“This is our case. What you should dwell on is your own case, pay first your fees for the counter protest you have lodged,” he added.
After the Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) ordered the release of the pilot provinces’ initial recount, Robredo said the Marcos camp was just looking for other areas because it has failed to get substantial recovery in these areas.
Article continues after this advertisement“Why did he choose CamSur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental, which we did not have a say in what he picked. Now that he did not get any [substantial recovery], he wants to look for it in other areas,” Robredo said.
Article continues after this advertisement“For me, we all know that even if he tries looking anywhere, he cannot find anything. But the mere fact that this issue drags on for so long, he is only given a platform to spread propaganda and lies,” she added.
READ: With no substantial recovery, Marcos now wants recount of other areas–Robredo
However, Rodriguez said this is merely an attempt by Robredo to allegedly hide behind the fact that they lost in this round.
“They’re trying to diffuse the loss that they got from the tribunal, the court’s decision was very emphatic, 11-2, meaning their motion to dismiss our protest was junked,” he noted.
Marcos, who ran against Robredo in the 2016 vice presidential race, claimed he lost due to massive cheating. Robredo edged Marcos by around 280,000 votes. /muf
READ: Marcos: I was robbed of 3 years as VP; Robredo: I’m not the thief between us
