SC junks Bongbong Marcos’ poll protest vs. VP Robredo

The Supreme Court (SC) has sealed as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) the victory of Leni Robredo as vice president in the 2016 elections after the magistrates dismissed the protest of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Marcos was second to Robredo among the vice presidential candidates who got the most votes in the second-highest position in the country.

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According to SC spokesperson Brian Hosaka on Tuesday, the magistrates vote “unanimous” to dismiss Marcos’ protest filed on June 29, 2016, to invalidate Robredo’s victory.

Of the 15 magistrates who attended the meeting, Hosaka said seven were “fully concurred” with the decision to dismiss the protest, and others agreed.

The decision will be posted on the SC website.

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Hosaka did not say whether Marcos could appeal the decision.

“I cannot answer the question because I only have the information which I read,” he said.

According to Atty. Romulo Macalintal, Robredo’s lawyer, they have not yet seen a copy of the decision.

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“Hindi pa kami nakakatanggap ng desisyon, nakinig lamang kami sa presscon,” said Macalintal in Super Radyo dzBB.

“Ngayon lang kami magkakausap mula nung magkaroon ng pandemya tungkol sa bagay na ito,” Macalintal added that he was on his way to Robredo’s office.

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SC junks Bongbong Marcos’ poll protest vs. VP Robredo

According to Marcos’ lawyer, Atty. Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, they have not yet received the SC decision.

“The information that we have are primarily sourced from our media friends and not from any official notice or information emanating from the Presidential Electoral Tribunal,”
their statement in the e-mail sent.

“We shall issue our statement on the matter as soon as we have established the facts based on official document or pronouncement coming from the PET,” he added.

The Palace said they respect the SC’s decision.

“‘Yan ay desisyon ng Kataas-taasang Hukuman. We respect that,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

“We respect also that the camp of (former) senator Bongbong Marcos has a further remedy of moving for reconsideration,” he added.