MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo is accusing former senator Ferdinand “Bongbing” Marcos Jr. of causing delay in the resolution of the poll protest case he filed against his 2016 electoral rival.
“If former senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is determined to get a speedy resolution of his protest…he should avoid filing motions that only lengthen the proceedings,” said the Vice President’s camp in a statement issued Monday, December 18.
“By doing this, they have no one to blame but themselves for any delay,” Robredo’s legal counsel, Romulo Macalintal, said in the same statement.
Macalintal was referring to the partial motion for reconsideration filed by Marcos, questioning the decision dated November 7, 2017 of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
Marcos filed the motion after the PET allowed Robredo to have copies of ballots and other reports from the decrypted secured digital (SD) cards from Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental.
“Like in any other case, both camps are given copies of all documents. This is the standard practice in the spirit of transparency and fairness,” said Macalintal.
Earlier, Macalintal said the soft copies would help both parties protect their rights.
In its decision, the PET approved the urgent ex-parte motion filed by Robredo’s camp on October 23, 2017 that she be furnished soft copies of the ballot images and reports from the decrypted SD cards from the three pilot provinces designated by Marcos for his election protest even though that it was the latter who filed the protest.
The decision paves the way for Robredo to coordinate with the Commission on Elections on the procedure and supplies needed for the soft copies, according to her camp.
For its part, the Comelec, for its part, said it is capable of providing soft copies to both parties.
Robredo also said she would be ready to give Marcos copies of the reports if she would ask for decryption.
