SC spokesman reminds Robredo, Marcos camps not to publicly comment on poll protest

Supreme Court (SC) spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka has reminded Vice President Leni Robredo, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. and their lawyers to refrain from publicly commenting on their pending case before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

"Gusto ko po ulit ipaalala sa mga parties at sa kanilang mga abugado na galangin po sana nila ang utos ng korte na wag mag kumento o magsalita sa media tungkol sa kaso ayon sa 'sub judice rule,'" Hosaka said Wednesday.

The PET fined Robredo and Marcos P50,000 each last year for publicly discussing the case. The tribunal said they violated the sub judice rule, which bars litigants from disclosing information that may result in the prejudging of pending court cases.

Hosaka on Wednesday said the justices are still studying Marcos' election protest against Robredo, and that it was difficult for him to comment on Robredo lawyer Romulo Macalintal's reported statements in a radio interview about the possible outcome of the case.

The court spokesman said he has not seen the confidential report on the recount of ballots from three provinces. He said he could not speak based on rumors and speculations.

"Ang pinag-uusapan po dito sa kasong ito ay ang pangalawang pinakamataas na pinuno ng ating bansa, at kung sino ang tunay at totoong pinili ng taong bayan na bise president na ayon sa batas," Hosaka said.

"Kaya po siguro dapat lamang ay pag aralan ng mabuti at maingat ng ating mga Justices ang bawat issue at ebidensiya ng kaso," he added.

The PET has deliberated on the case for a number of sessions since Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, the member-in-charge, submitted a report on the recount of ballots from Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental last September 9.

The tribunal has yet to reach a vote on the matter, and the discussion, a source said, will continue on October 15.

Marcos is protesting Robredo's victory in the 2016 elections, which he said was a product of electoral fraud. —KBK, GMA News