MANILA – Do not intervene in the electoral protest that former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, President Rodrigo Duterte was urged.
The President’s inquiry into the state of Marcos’ poll protest could affect the outcome of the ongoing manual recount, said former representative Barry Gutierrez.
Any form of interference Duterte makes “could cause undue pressure” on the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
In a speech Monday night Duterte inquired about the status of Marcos’ election protest.
“Ano ba’ng latest count nito kay Bongbong, pati kay ano? Ma-vice president ba talaga iyan?” he said.
Gutierrez reminded the public that Duterte is an ally of the Marcoses – the President favored the burial of dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
“We must not forget that he declared several times that he wanted (Bongbong) Marcos to be his vice president,” the former congressman said.
Meanwhile Erin Tañada, vice president for external affairs of the opposition Liberal Party, said Robredo could suffer the same fate as ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
Supreme Court justices voted to remove Sereno as the chief magistrate for her alleged failure to fully declare her wealth.
Their decision favored the quo warranto petition that Solicitor General Jose Calida filed questioning Sereno’s appointment.
“Nang magsalita si Duterte laban kay … Sereno, naalis siya sa puwesto. Ngayong nagpahayag ng interes si Duterte sa protesta ni Marcos, baka sapitin din ni [Robredo] ang kapalaran ni … Sereno,” Tañada said./PN
