Robredo seeks junking of Bongbong motion

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday asked the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to dismiss the motion for reconsideration former senator Bongbong Marcos filed to reverse its previous dismissal ruling.

In a statement, Robredo said PET should junk the motion as she emphasized that Marcos merely presented arguments similar to the electoral protest that was ordered dismissed last Feb. 16.

“The MR must be denied for its utter lack of merit. The allegations are mere rehash or repetition of the same arguments already settled or decided by the PET in its said resolution,” the Vice President said in her comment to Marcos’ motion.

“Marcos should know that the prospect of defeat is a reality that all political candidates who stand for election must learn to accept. This was the teaching of no less than his father, the late president Ferdinand Marcos, who said that ‘nobody is impervious to misfortune,’” she added.

The former senator filed a motion for reconsideration on May 6, asking the PET to proceed with the presentation of evidence for his third cause of action, which is the annulment of election results in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan.

He claimed that PET did not give him the opportunity to present his evidence of poll results in those provinces on the grounds of terrorism, violence, intimidation, substitution of voters and pre-shading of ballots in favor of Robredo.

But Robredo, citing a PET resolution, countered by saying that “after losing in the recount of ballots from his three pilot provinces (Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental), Marcos is now changing his story … this is clearly contrary to his said manifestation before the PET as enunciated by his counsel.”

“What is clear in Marcos’ motion for reconsideration is the reality that he committed a legal blunder when he chose his pilot provinces. This was his own personal choice. Nobody dictated upon him on his choice,” she added.

She argued that if PET grants the motion of Marcos, then this would violate Rule 65 that limits pilot provinces to only three.

Robredo urged Marcos to accept his defeat with grace even if it is a “bitter pill to swallow.” – Elizabeth Marcelo