Robredo expects CJ Peralta to uphold SC integrity in poll protest

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said she was expecting newly appointed Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta to uphold the integrity of the Supreme Court in its handling of the vice presidential poll protest.

Robredo said Peralta, as Chief Justice, should set aside his “personal preferences” and uphold the integrity of the High Court.

“He will not only be personally responsible for his actions, but his actions will also have an impact on how the public views the judiciary,” Robredo, speaking in Filipino, said in her weekly AM radio show “BISErbisyong LENI.”

“I think Chief Justice Peralta knows that. And we believe that, first and foremost, he will fight for the integrity of the Supreme Court,” she added.

Robredo said there were alleged photos of Peralta with the Marcoses, which surfaced on social media platforms.

But the Vice President said she believed Peralta would not compromise the entire court.

“He knows that the many eyes are following the case,” she said.

Peralta took his oath before President Rodrigo Duterte on Oct. 24, as he replaced Lucas Bersamin who retired last Oct. 18.

The Supreme Court, which sits as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), earlier did not rule on the committee report on the result of the revision of ballots from three pilot provinces chosen by Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. — Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

Instead, the tribunal asked both parties to comment on the report and submit memoranda on other issues relating to the jurisdiction as well as about Marcos’s third cause of action which seeks to nullify election results for the vice presidency in Lanao Del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao.

/atm