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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider COA to PET: Return unused P13.3-M deposits of Pres Marcos Jr., ex-VP Robredo in 2016 electoral protests

COA to PET: Return unused P13.3-M deposits of Pres Marcos Jr., ex-VP Robredo in 2016 electoral protests

Published Jun 9, 2023 05:35 am
The Commission on Audit (COA) has directed the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to return P13.318 million to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and former Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo as unutilized cash deposits for their protest and counter-protest in the 2016 vice presidential election. Marcos filed a petition before the PET on June 29, 2016 challenging Robredo’s win. The protest petitions triggered years of legal battle between the two who vied for the post of vice president. The cash deposits made by Marcos and Robredo were to be used for the payment of bringing of ballot boxes and election documents or paraphernalia to the PET and returning them after the case is terminated. The money was also used as compensation for members of the tribunal’s revision committee. The PET concluded the election protest on Feb. 16, 2021 and dismissed Marcos’ protest. With its conclusion, P8,164,863.04 from Robredo's cash deposits and P5,152,832.16 from Marcos remained unused. Despite the termination of the protest, the COA said in its 2022 audit report that PET has not returned the remaining P13,317,695.20 cash deposits as of Dec. 31, 2022. It said the non-return is in violation of Rule 33 of 2010 Rules of the PET which states that "any unused cash deposit shall be returned to the protestant or counter-protestant after complete termination of the protest or counter-protest." "The inability of management to return the unutilized excess cash deposits... places PET in unnecessary indebtedness from a private individual and the President of the Philippine government," the COA said. The COA has recommended that the PET notify the protesting parties of the unexpended balance of their deposits so that they can finally withdraw the unused money with the termination of the case. The PET is composed of all the 15 justices of the Supreme Court.
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