Celebs urge Comelec to support dismissal of Marcos poll protest vs. Robredo

Showbiz personalities led by actress Agot Isidro on Wednesday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to support a dismissal of the poll protest lodged by former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr against Vice President Leni Robredo.

The group made the move in response to the Supreme Court decision asking the Comelec to comment on Marcos’ bid to annul the 2016 poll results in Basilan, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, even if Marcos already lost the manual recount in three pilot provinces he has chosen: Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

In their letter, the movie and television personalities said that Comelec’s support for a dismissal of Marcos’ poll protest is in accordance with Comelec Resolution 9720, which upheld the 25% vote-shading threshold in the manual recount of votes in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

The 25% threshold was the same threshold of the Vote Counting Machines used in counting the 2016 election results.

In the said manual recount, Marcos did not have substantial recovery of votes and Robredo gained 15,000 votes more.

“Comelec made a stand for truth and fairness when it informed the PET (Presidential Electoral Tribunal) that the 25-percent threshold must be used for the recount of ballots, with the poll body recognizing the disservice to change the rules in the middle of the proceedings,” the group said.

“This time, we are appealing to the poll body to underscore the enforcement of election rules, particularly Comelec Resolution No. 9720 and Rule 65 of the PET Rules, as means to resolve this protest,” it added.

The SC sits as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), which deliberates the poll protest case of Marcos against Robredo.

Rule 65 of PET rules requires substantial recovery of votes in pilot provinces before a protest can proceed.

Further, Rule 65 of PET rules also states that, “[I]f upon examination of such ballots and proof, and after making reasonable allowances into account, the protestant or counter-protestant will most probably fail to make out his case, the protest may forthwith be dismissed, without further consideration of other provinces mentioned in the protest.” —KBK, GMA News