Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday called on the Commission on Elections to stop issuing what she called premature statements.
She made the call after the Comelec said it was ready to conduct special elections in three provinces in Mindanao in connection with the poll protest of ex-Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, give the order.
Robredo’s legal consultant, Emil Marañon III, reacted to the statement of Comelec spokesman James Jimenez that they were ready to conduct special elections in Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao once the PET ordered it.
“With all due respect, holding a special election is not as simple as this. There are many considerations”•not just a matter of willingness on Comelec’s part,” Marañon said in a statement.
“Administrative questions have to be settled. Who will finance the elections? Is it Bongbong Marcos? If it is the government, should there be prior appropriation from Congress?”
“Can Comelec spend its own savings for it? Is there a line item for special elections arising from an election protest that would facilitate a realignment? In other words, the question of special election remains a very remote possibility. Marcos has yet to hurdle Rule 65.”
Under Rule 65 of the PET, “the Tribunal may require the protestant or counter-protestant to indicate, within a fixed period, the province or provinces numbering not more than three, best exemplifying the frauds or irregularities alleged in his petition; and the revision of ballots and reception of evidence will begin with such provinces.
“If upon examination of such ballots and proof, and after making reasonable allowances, the Tribunal is convinced that, taking all circumstances into account, the protestant or counter-protestant will most probably fail to make out his case, the protest may forthwith be dismissed, without further consideration of the other provinces mentioned in the protest.”
The results of the manual recount in the three pilot provinces selected by Marcos”•Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental—showed Robredo widened her 263,473 lead over Marcos by around 15,000 votes.
On Oct. 15, the PET directed the camps of Robredo and Marcos to comment on such results, as well as Marcos’ bid to annul the 2016 election results in Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao within 20 working days.
Marañon called on the Comelec to defend its integrity in doing its mandate rather than playing to Marcos’ wishes.
“This discussion [on holding special elections] is better reserved when that day comes,” Marañon said.
“In fact, as of now, Comelec should rather defend and stand by the 2016 Automated Election System”•which it designed, procured and implemented”•which is now being assailed by Bongbong Marcos in his election protest.”