Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo addresses questions from reporters on Tuesday. OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
Minority senators on Tuesday hit the decision of the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), to seek comments on the move of ex-senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to continue his electoral protest against Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, saying the case should instead be dropped.
In a joint statement, Senators Franklin Drilon, Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan pointed out that under PET rules, the protest should be junked because Marcos did not overturn the results of the vice-presidential election in three pilot provinces subjected to a recount.
“A recount was made. The result: Vice President Robredo’s lead widened…What should happen now is that the case should be dismissed. Enough of the lies. Accept the truth that Robredo is the vice president,” they said.
“But now the Supreme Court wants both sides to comment on the petition of Mr. Marcos,” they said.
Robredo, in a news conference, welcomed the PET decision to release the results of the recount in the pilot provinces chosen by Marcos, covering 5,415 election precincts in Iloilo, Negros Occidental, and Camarines Sur.
But she said Marcos should no longer be allowed to seek a recount in more provinces — Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Basilan — as this would go against the rules.
“Under Rule 65 of the PET, no more than three pilot provinces should be chosen,” she told reporters.
Asked to comment on Marcos’s statement that he was robbed of the vice presidency, Robredo said: “Between the two of us, I know I am not the robber.” (PressONE.ph)