Robredo sees Marcos’ poll protest junked after lead in PET recount

MANILA – Vice President Leni Robredo expects former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s poll protest to be dismissed after results of a manual recount in three pilot provinces have been revealed and showed her increasing her lead by some 15,000 votes.


Robredo said in a television interview that Marcos’ poll protest should be dismissed as he failed to show a “substantial recovery” of votes after a revision and re-appreciation of ballots from his pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.


Kaya ngayon na nilabas na iyong resulta ng recount, inaasahan namin na very soon idi-dismiss na iyong protesta,” Robredo said. “So iyon iyong hinihingi natin ngayon: huwag magpapalit ng rules in the middle of the game.”


Robredo slammed allegations thrown by the Marcos camp, saying “it is impossible to manipulate the results of the manual recount as watchers of both camps and Presidential Electoral Tribunal officials were present.”


Ang hindi ko naiintindihan kasi parang iyong pagsisinungaling, nakakahawa pala. Kasi pati iyong abogado nagsisinungaling na rin; kasi sila iyong nagpadala ng sarili nilang watchers,” Robredo said.


She added: “Mayroon silang resulta nitong recount. Even before ilabas ito ng Supreme Court, mayroon na silang resulta kasi mayroon na silang mga representatives doon sa recount at alam nila na lalo pang lumamang iyong boto ko,” she added.


The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), said Robredo’s lead in the three provinces protested by Marcos increased by some 15,000 votes.


“After the revision and appreciation, the overall, nationwide vote lead of protestee Robredo increased from 263,473 to 278,566,” the PET said in a resolution.


After deducting votes from sustained objections and adding ones earned due to admitted claims, the PET found that Robredo got 1,510,178 votes from the pilot provinces as opposed to Marcos’ 204,512.


These figures are higher than the votes Robredo and Marcos got as reflected in the provincial certificates of canvass: 1,493,517 for Robredo and 202,136 for Marcos./PN

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