Leni's camp questions PET retrieval of ballots from Negros Or.
Published Sep 17, 2018 07:05 pm
By Raymund Antonio
The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday said the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) was not able to properly prepare for the schedule of collection and retrieval of 1,284 ballot boxes from Negros Oriental.
Vice President Leni Robredo (left) and Atty. Romulo Macalintal
(FEDERICO CRUZ / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Robredo's lawyers, Romulo Macalintal and Bernadette Sardillo, filed a four-page manifestation about the ballot retrieval set this week, from September 17 to 19. "This is the third scheduled retrieval of ballot boxes and protestee Robredo had hoped that this time around, the parties would have been given sufficient lead time to prepare their respective representatives and logistical needs," they said. Negros Oriental is one of the three pilot provinces selected by former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the manual recount in his election protest. The others are Camarines Sur and Iloilo. The Supreme Court, acting as PET, is hearing the election case filed by Marcos against Robredo. The PET called both Robredo and Marcos camps to a meeting on Sept. 13 to discuss details about the collection and retrieval of ballot boxes from the province. The supposed meeting, however, was cancelled. Instead, they only both received emails on the same day regarding the estimated expenses for the collection and retrieval of ballot boxes amounting to P8.64 million that will be deducted from Marcos' cash deposit. Included in the email from PET were the dates for the ballot retrieval. While Robredo’s counsels are not opposed to the scheduled ballot retrieval, Macalintal and Sardillo said the parties should have been given sufficient time to prepare for the PET activity. "Sadly, the short notice, compounded by the incoming typhoon, has rendered preparations for the scheduled retrieval doubly difficult," they said in the manifestation. "While protestee Robredo understands the constraints faced by the retrieval team, due consideration should also have been given to the parties," the lawyers said. The PET started the retrieval of ballots on Monday from Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, Guinhunlngan City, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy and Manjuyod. In Manjuyod, retrieved were two totally damaged ballot boxes (Poblacion and Banto Linao). There were also partially damaged ballot boxes found from the municipalities of Manjuyud – Alangilanan, Concepcion, Dongo-an, Campuyo, Sundoan, Mandalupang, Candabong, Bantolinao and South Poblacion.
Vice President Leni Robredo (left) and Atty. Romulo Macalintal(FEDERICO CRUZ / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Robredo's lawyers, Romulo Macalintal and Bernadette Sardillo, filed a four-page manifestation about the ballot retrieval set this week, from September 17 to 19. "This is the third scheduled retrieval of ballot boxes and protestee Robredo had hoped that this time around, the parties would have been given sufficient lead time to prepare their respective representatives and logistical needs," they said. Negros Oriental is one of the three pilot provinces selected by former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the manual recount in his election protest. The others are Camarines Sur and Iloilo. The Supreme Court, acting as PET, is hearing the election case filed by Marcos against Robredo. The PET called both Robredo and Marcos camps to a meeting on Sept. 13 to discuss details about the collection and retrieval of ballot boxes from the province. The supposed meeting, however, was cancelled. Instead, they only both received emails on the same day regarding the estimated expenses for the collection and retrieval of ballot boxes amounting to P8.64 million that will be deducted from Marcos' cash deposit. Included in the email from PET were the dates for the ballot retrieval. While Robredo’s counsels are not opposed to the scheduled ballot retrieval, Macalintal and Sardillo said the parties should have been given sufficient time to prepare for the PET activity. "Sadly, the short notice, compounded by the incoming typhoon, has rendered preparations for the scheduled retrieval doubly difficult," they said in the manifestation. "While protestee Robredo understands the constraints faced by the retrieval team, due consideration should also have been given to the parties," the lawyers said. The PET started the retrieval of ballots on Monday from Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, Guinhunlngan City, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy and Manjuyod. In Manjuyod, retrieved were two totally damaged ballot boxes (Poblacion and Banto Linao). There were also partially damaged ballot boxes found from the municipalities of Manjuyud – Alangilanan, Concepcion, Dongo-an, Campuyo, Sundoan, Mandalupang, Candabong, Bantolinao and South Poblacion.