Leni backs disposal of poll materials

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo is backing the bid of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to dispose of poll materials pending resolution of the election protest filed against her by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In a comment submitted entirely in Filipino in observance of the Buwan ng Wika before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), Robredo said there was nothing wrong with the plea of the poll body for it to be allowed to “immediately conduct stripping activities for all the vote counting machines (VCMs) and consolidation and canvass system kits, including the disposal of the VCM external batteries.”

“The Comelec has given lawyers and poll watchers of each political party ample notice before closure and stripping of the machines where they would also be allowed to send representatives to observe,” read the pleading filed through lawyer Romulo Macalintal.

Robredo, who stands as protestee or respondent in Marcos’ protest, expressed belief that the disposal of the machines and kits by Comelec would have no impact on the preliminary precaution order (PPO) issued by the PET, the body mandated to resolve election protests in the presidential and vice presidential polls composed of all justices of the Supreme Court.

“I don’t see any anomaly with the closure or stripping of some VCMs, which the Comelec already started before it received the PPO from the PET,” the Vice President pointed out.