PET dismisses Roxas’ protest vs. Binay’s vice presidential win in 2010

The Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, on Tuesday tossed out the bid of former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas to unseat then Vice President Jejomar Binay following the change of leadership in June.

The PET said Roxas' electoral protest in relation to the 2010 polls became moot after a Leni Robredo assumed the vice presidency following the elections in May.

Binay and Roxas also both ran for president but lost to eventual winner, then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

"The Tribunal takes judicial notice that on May 30, 2016, the NBOC (National Board of Canvassers) had proclaimed Rodrigo Duterte as the new President of the Philippines and Maria Leonor Robredo as Vice President. Both President Duterte and Vice President Robredo took their respective oaths of office and assumed their posts on June 30, 2016," the PET said in its decision.

The PET added the tenure of office (2010 to 2016) being contested by Roxas and Binay had expired upon Robredo's assumption to office.

"As such, we are constrained to dismiss the protest which had been rendered moot by the recent turn of events," the tribunal said.

"Indeed, it will be an exercise in futility for the Tribunal to conduct a revision and engage in academic discussion in order to determine who really won as vice president in the 2010 elections, when it would not bring any practical value and purpose for the parties."

In his election protest, Roxas asked the tribunal to account for three million null votes and other votes that were not counted during the national canvassing after the May 10, 2010 automated elections.

He also called for a thorough review of the automated elections system in light of the technical glitches encountered before, during, and after the elections.

Roxas lost to Binay by over 700,000 votes, making it one of the closest races for the second highest post in the country. —NB, GMA News