VICE PRESIDENT Maria Leonor G. Robredo on Monday asked the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), to uphold its rule in deciding on the electoral protest filed by losing candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr.

In a 23-page manifestation, Ms. Robredo reiterated to the high court that it should abide by the PET Rule 65, which indicates that the protest will be dismissed if Mr. Marcos fails to make substantial recovery in the three pilot provinces.

The three pilot provinces were Camarines Sur, Negros Oriental, and Iloilo.

The manifestation was filed following reports that the PET will proceed with the technical examination of election documents in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and Basilan, even if Mr. Marcos fails to register substantially more votes in the pilot provinces.

“In summary, the protestee Robredo still has the highest respect to the honourable Tribunal that the Rules will not be changed in the middle of the game,” the manifestation reads.

It pointed out that the election protest filed in June 2016 is anchored on two causes of action, which are the nullification of Ms. Robredo’s proclamation as vice president due to the reliability of system for the canvassing of votes for the position, and revision and recount of voter’s receipt and election returns in 27 provinces.

It also noted that the court, in its resolution on July 2, deferred ruling on the motion of Mr. Marcos on the technical examination on the three provinces in Mindanao pending the initial determination of the protest under Rule 65.

“For the PET to deviate from Rule 65 is a violation of Robredo’s right to due process and equal protection of the law and it would even violate the constitutional mandate that all bonafide candidates should be free from any form of discrimination,” Ms. Robredo’s lawyer Romulo B. Macalintal said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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