Leni camp unruffled by Marcos recount bid

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Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo has nothing to worry about the impending recount of votes in three pilot provinces that former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has chosen in his electoral protest.

Robredo’s lawyer Romulo Macalintal said the results of the ballot recount will come out in favor of the Vice President, with the Supreme Court (SC) dismissing Marcos’ protest for lack of merit.

“We are very confident that the results of the ballot recount... will confirm and affirm the victory of Robredo as the duly elected Vice President in the 2016 elections,” he said.

This is because, the veteran lawyer explained that, not a single election protest in local posts had been successful in more than 500 cases filed for ballot recount since 2010.

“If results in the recount of ballots for local elective officials were accurate, there is no rhyme or reason why the physical recount for national position would be different,” Macalintal said.

He added the ballots used for the local and national elective posts were the “same and likewise counted and tallied by the same VCMs (vote counting machines) and CCS (consolidated canvassing system).”

Macalintal expressed confidence the recount would not change the election results last year as the SC began preparations for the ballot revision and recount proceedings.

The SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, gave Macalintal, along with Robredo’s another lawyer, Beng Sardillo, a tour last Monday at the court’s gymnasium, where the recount will be conducted. Inside the SC gym, they saw the 50 huge tables that will be used for the opening of the contested ballot boxes and recounting of votes.

Macalintal said he believed the PET will dismiss Marcos’ protest if “he could not prove any substantial recovery from these three pilot provinces.”

“He can’t change or add to these three provinces as it is not allowed by the PET rules,” he said.

Robredo’s lawyer also cited the decision of PET to deny Marcos’ motion for technical examination of election materials in Mindanao provinces has affected his chances of pursuing his protest.

“Its merits would be initially determined based on the results of the said recount of ballots from Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental which, as stated would not have any material effect on the official count when Robredo was declared winner,” he declared.