Palace: Respect SC verdict on Leni win
The fact of unanimity of the decision by the PET appears to validate VP Robredo’s win on the basis of law and of the evidence presented before it by both parties
Malacañang on Tuesday called on “everyone to abide” by the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to dismiss former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s protest against Vice President Leni Robredo’s 2016 elections victory.
The High Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), dismissed Case 005 filed by Marcos against Robredo questioning her victory in the vicepresidential polls with all 15 members of the SC unanimously concurring with the decision.
“The (PET) DISMISSES the Election Protest filed by protestant Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. for lack of merit. The Counter-Protest filed by protestee Maria Leonor “Leni Daang Matuwid” G. Robredo is likewise DISMISSED,” the decision stated.
In a statement, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo said: “The fact of unanimity of decision by the PET appears to validate VP Robredo’s win on the basis of law and of the evidence presented before it by both parties.”
“Perforce, rule of law has prevailed. Due process was evidently observed with both parties having been given the opportunity to present their respective cases.”
“As a general rule, the electorate’s decision is to be accorded the stamp of correctness. Every rule however by universal practice admits of an exception.”
“The supporters of the losing party, as well as those who voted for the losing candidate may disagree with the general voters’ choice and consider the same as incorrect. They have to accept the verdict no matter how wrong or unacceptable (it is) to them. That is the rule of the majority.”
“We have to abide by the precepts of democracy. We cannot be blinded by our personal biases for a particular candidate, that is how democracy works. The minority must submit and concede to the majority,” said Panelo, who had represented the Marcos family in certain cases, said.
“The PET has spoken. It behooves everyone to abide by it. And so we must,” he ended.
No other detail was provided by SC spokesperson Brian Keith Hosaka when he conducted a press briefing to announce the decision.
“Out of the 15 members of the Tribunal who were present in today’s meeting, I was informed that seven fully concurred in the dismissal while eight concurred with the result,” Hosaka added.
He said the SC will upload on its website a copy of the resolutions detailing the reasons for the dismissal once they are available.
Marcos’ lawyer Victor Rodriguez said his client would issue a statement on the PET’s decision as “as soon as we have established the facts based on official documents or pronouncement coming from the PET.”
The Comelec declared Robredo as the winner in the vice-presidential race in the 2016 election after she got 14,418,817 votes — 263,473 votes more than the 14,155,344 votes received by Marcos.
They have to accept the verdict no matter how wrong or unacceptable (it is) to them. That is the rule of the majority.
Marcos filed the protest on 29 June 2016, claiming he was cheated in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan.
Meanwhile, several lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Tuesday welcomed the PET decision.
Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said it is enough to prove that Robredo beat Marcos.
“The unanimity of the decision speaks volumes and should put to rest any doubts as regards her victory in the May 2016 elections,” he said.
For ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, the protest was a “waste of time and resources” as the results of the last vice-presidential election were clear about Robredo’s victory.
She also called on Solicitor General Jose Calida to resign for the sake of delicadeza after he joined the motion to inhibit against Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.
The SC denied Calida’s motion and stated that it was “deeply disturbing” to have the Office of the Solicitor General involved in such a case.
Even House Deputy Minority Leader Carlos Zarate slammed the Solicitor General following the release of PET’s decision, noting that it as a clear “big legal slap” on Calida’s face.