Marcos hits Robredo camp for ‘brazen’ claim of victory in poll protest
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2019 04:41:30 +0000
DEFEATED vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. hit the camp of incumbent Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo on Wednesday for claiming victory over his poll protest even as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) has yet to resolve the matter.
“We are appalled once more by the brazenness of Mrs. Robredo and her Liberal Party in claiming victory in my still ongoing election protest just as the tribunal announced that no action has been taken by the court on the Caguioa report,” Marcos said in a statement.
The former senator was referring to the report of Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa on the recount of votes which was submitted to the tribunal for deliberation.
READ: https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/09/11/news/headlines/draft-ruling-vs-marcos-poll-protest-divides-sc/614585/
Marcos, who lost the race to Robredo in the 2016 elections, has previously identified election precincts in the provinces of Iloilo, Negros Oriental, and Camarines Sur for recount and revision of ballots.
“We have not received any formal notice or decision from the PET regarding this matter…Clearly, there has been a concerted effort to intimidate and coerce the Tribunal with their underhanded mind conditioning tactics,” Marcos claimed.
Robredo’s camp has so far remained unfazed by potential threats that may “deviate”from the results based on the original revision and recount of votes.
“Ako ay naniniwala na dapat ganoon. Hindi po puwedeng mag-deviate ang ating hearing commissioners doon sa naging resulta ng revision and recount, at hindi rin puwedeng mag-deviate ang Korte Suprema sa magiging recommendation or findings ng mga hearing commissioners,” Romulo Macalintal, Robredo’s legal counsel, said on Tuesday.
(I believe that’s how it’s supposed to work. Our hearing commissioners should not deviate from the results of the revision and recount and that Supreme Court should not deviate from the recommendations and findings of the hearing commissioners.)
“Dalawang bagay iyon – iyong resulta noong revision and recount of the ballots would mean dismissal of the case or continuation of the election protest of Mr. Marcos,” he said.
(The result of the revision and recount of the ballots could mean two things—the dismissal of the case or continuation of the election protest of Mr. Marcos.)
Robredo’s camp previously reiterated victory after claiming that she even gained more than 15,000 votes which were deemed qualified for the 25-percent threshold, based on the unofficial recount by PET. GLEE JALEA