Macalintal blasts Bongbong’s delaying ploy

Leading vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo’s counsels Romulo Macalintal and Leila de Lima in a press briefing at the Microtel Ayala Technohub in Quezon City on Wednesday. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net

LIKE how millennials would usually describe a failed relationship, the camp of leading vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo said there should be no forever (“walang forever”) in the canvassing of votes.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal infused humor on Wednesday into his criticism of Senator Bongbong Marcos’ attempt to delay the canvassing of votes amid the hotly-contested vice presidential race between the senator and Robredo.

“Walang forever, hindi naman pwede forever na lang tayo dyan,” Macalintal said, drawing laughter from reporters during a media briefing at the Microtel Ayala Technohub in Quezon City on Wednesday.

As Macalintal and incoming Senator Leila de Lima who is a new addition to Robredo’s legal team, spoke to the media, they had a pile of blue boxes containing certificates of canvass (COCs) from different regions beside them.

Asked how long the canvassing of votes could possibly take, Macalintal said it can be done in two days. Problem is some candidates cannot just accept defeat, he said.

“Ang problema, the debate among the senators and the congressmen, minsan kasi may mga tanong na tinitignan natin. But kung walang question, kahit dalawang araw matatapos iyan at kung marunong tumanggap ng pagkatalo ang ating mga kandidato. Ang problema kasi walang halos tumatanggap ng pagkatalo,” Macalintal said.

Just one election return

Macalintal also challenged Marcos to show them at least one election return that could prove that there were discrepancies in the ERs.

“If there is an error, we challenge Mr. Marcos to show us one election return of the so many thousands of returns canvassed and transmitted to the policy server. Just one election return. That’s the way to contest a particular election return,” he said.

The seasoned election lawyer said Marcos cannot just accuse the other party of buying votes by merely basing it on the ERs and COCs.

De Lima also maintained that Robredo’s camp remains confident that the Camarines Sur lawmaker will be proclaimed as the duly elected Vice President of the country.

No deferment

The former Justice Secretary said they would not allow the deferment of the canvassing and proclamation for the vice president as proposed by Marcos.

“Because we have seen the documents, we have seen the figures, we have the figures and then we know that there cannot be legitimate rounds to see for any deferment of canvass, deferment of proclamation of VP Leni Robredo,” she said.

Earlier Wednesday, Robredo’s team offered a Mass for a smooth canvassing of votes. The three daughters of the Camarines Sur lawmaker, Jillian, Tricia and Aika, campaign staff and her supporters were present in the Eucharistic celebration.

Besides Macalintal and De Lima, Robredo’s legal group includes lawyers Maria Bernadette Sardillo, Edgardo Carlo Vistan II and Marlon Manuel.