Robredo fully conversant with election protest, PET decision –Macalintal

Vice President Leni Robredo's lead counsel in the election protest filed against her by former Senator Bongbong Marcos denied that the vice-president was unaware of the details of the protest.

In his Sunday statement, Atty. Romulo Macalintal also denied the assertion made by Marcos lawyer Vic Rodriguez that the October 15 decision issued by the Supreme Court, sitting as a Presidential Electoral Tribunal or PET, had resolved “to proceed with Marcos' protest.” 

"The PET has yet to study [the protest's] merits after the parties have submitted their respective memoranda on various issues," Robredo's lawyer pointed out. "The PET did not also 'junk the Caguioa report' as it was the basis of the PET in holding in abeyance further proceedings in Marcos protest until the parties have submitted said memoranda."

Macalintal reiterated that the PET, in a 13-0 vote, had concluded that Robredo won in the three pilot provinces chosen by Marcos.

“Based on the final tally, after the revision and appreciation of the votes in the three (3) pilot provinces, Robredo increased her lead with 14,436,337 votes, over protestant Marcos who obtained 14,157,771 votes.  After the revision and appreciation of the ballots, the lead of Robredo increased from 263,473 to 278,566,” the vice president's lawyer emphasized.

"Thus, our position, then and now, that Marcos protest should be dismissed outright pursuant to Rule 65 of the PET Rules which provides for the dismissal of an election protest if the protestant, like Marcos in this case, fails to show any substantial recovery from his chosen three (3) pilot provinces," said Macalintal. — DVM, GMA News