Marcos call to withdraw all motions just 'bluff,' says Robredo camp

MANILA, Philippines — The challenge of losing vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos for Vice President Leni Robredo to withdraw all her motions is just a “bluff,” her lawyer Romulo Macalintal said on Monday.

Macalintal slammed Marcos and stressed that Robredo did not have any pending motion at the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal that would delay the recount process in his election protest.

Robredo’s lawyer said that Marcos’ challenge for both parties to withdraw their motions was a manifestation that he lacked confidence about the would-be results of the recount.

“It is his diversionary tactic to avoid the great embarrassment and humiliation he would suffer once the people know that Marcos' claimed bombshell of evidence would turn out to be a dud,” Macalintal said in a statement.

READ: Robredo camp: PET should probe Marcos for 'ridiculous' poll fraud evidence

On Sunday, Marcos, the son of the late Philippine dictator who committed massive human rights and corruption during his tenure from 1965 to 1986, challenged Robredo to withdraw her motion in the electoral challenge, so the two parties could proceed to the recount of contested ballots.

Vic Rodriguez, the lawyer for the former senator, asked the vice president to sign a joint motion withdrawing all their outstanding motions.

“We have been instructed by (former) senator Marcos to draft the joint motion and Senator Marcos is ready to sign it anytime. We are fervently hoping that Mrs. Robredo will do the same,” Rodriguez said.

READ:  Robredo lawyer questions ‘evidence’ of poll fraud

He also expressed his belief that proceeding to the recount would “conclusively” clear issues on ballot images, undervotes and overvotes.

He also claimed that Marcos was doing the protest not only form himself but also for the rest of the Filipino people who deserved to know the truth.

“Mr. Marcos is bluffing on his challenge to withdraw all motions as there is no motion pending at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal that would or could delay the recount,” Macalintal clarified.

Robredo’s lawyer said that Marcos’ deception of having “truckloads of evidence” only to withdraw this claim was what greatly insulted the intelligence of the electorate, according to Macalintal.

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He also assured the public that the results of the recount would greatly disappoint Marcos as it would just confirm the results as counted by the vote counting machines.

“It means that his protest is now facing its eventual dismissal,” Macalintal said.

Last week, the failed vice presidential candidate presented evidence that would supposedly show fraud during the 2016 national and local elections.

He showed copies of supposedly questionable ballot images from Camarines Sur and Negros Oriental, two of the three pilot provinces for his election protest recount.

Robredo’s camp dismissed the supposed evidence as “highly ridiculous if not outright frivolous.”

Marcos is contesting the results in more than 39,000 clustered precincts while Robredo’s counter protest covers more than 8,000 clustered polling centers.

If Marcos wins in his election case, this will mark a dramatic turnaround for the family and will mean a big step in its effort to rehabilitate and restore its name.