The Supreme Court asked the Commission on Elections to tackle the unresolved issues in the 2016 election protest filed against Vice President Leni Robredo by her defeated opponent, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, responded to Marcos’ petition seeking to disregard votes from Basilan, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao due to alleged poll fraud and terrorism.
The 12 justices who were present unanimously ordered the poll body to report if there were petitions filed for failure of elections in these contested provinces. If petitions were lodged, it asked Comelec for updates if these were granted or denied. It also asked Comelec to submit the results if special elections were held in these areas if there was a failure of elections during the 2016 national polls.
In his electoral protest filed a month after the election day. Marcos urged the high court to nullify the votes from these the Mindanao provinces for “massive fraud.”
The PET gave Comelec 20 days upon receipt of its order to submit their comment.
Robredo and Marcos were given 15 days to reply after receiving the Comelec and OSG comments.
Robredo’s camp said they will comply with the court’s requirements.
“Dalawang beses nang nanalo sa bilang si VP Leni. Matagal nang tapos ang boksing. Matagal nang talo si Marcos. Tapusin na natin ito,” her lawyer Beng Sardillo said.
[VP Leni has already won twice. The fight is over. Marcos has lost. Let’s end this.]
