Opposition senators exult as PET junks Marcos protest vs Leni
The Senate minority bloc on Tuesday lauded the decision of the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), to dismiss the election protest of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he hopes that both parties in the case respect the ruling of the PET.
“I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. I, together with the more than 14 million Filipinos who voted for Vice President Leni Robredo in 2016, are pleased with the favorable decision of the PET,” Drilon said in a statement.
“The PET decision should put the issue to rest. I enjoin all parties involved to respect the decision,” the minority leader further said.
“Let us begin the healing process now and focus on what is before us – COVID-19 pandemic,” he stressed.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she is grateful that the PET ruled on the electoral protest with impartiality.
“Mabuti naman at natuldukan na ang isyung ito. Nirerespeto natin ang desisyon ng Presidential Electoral Tribunal dahil ginawa nila ang kanilang mandato nang walang pagkiling at ayon sa ebidensyang inihain sa kanila (It’s a good thing that they put an end to this issue. We respect the decision of the PET and because they performed their mandate without any partiality and all is based on the evidence that were presented to them),” Hontiveros said.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan also welcomed the ruling but said he hoped that the PET had solved the case sooner.
“How we wish this had been resolved much sooner because it affirms what we have been saying from Day 1, which is that the allegations of cheating in the protest was baseless and unfounded,” Pangilinan stressed.
Detained Sen. Leila de Lima also lauded the PET decision saying the evidence presented and the arguments by the parties led to the inevitable conclusion that Robredo is duly elected by the people.
“Not only does VP Leni have a clear mandate, her magnificent performance in office has shown that she’s way more qualified than anyone Duterte can pick to replace him,” De Lima stated in her Twitter account.