PET tells Robredo, Marcos camps to explain public comments on recount

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court, which is also the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has ordered Vice President Leni Robredo and former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to explain why they should not be cited in contempt by the court for statements in media on the vote recount.

In a five-page resolution dated April 10, but released only on Thursday, the tribunal issued a show-cause order to the two camps for violating earlier resolutions reminding them of the sub judice rule — a prohibition on discussing a case that is pending in court.

READ: PET warns Marcos Robredo: Refrain from matters already in court

The tribunal has given the two camps 10 days from the receipt of the resolution to explain their side.

The PET reminded the two parties that they were earlier ordered to “strictly observe” the sub judice rule in a resolution dated February 13. The directive was reiterated in another resolution dated March 20.

Parties 'disclosed sensitive information'

But the tribunal noted that the two camps continued to release statements to media where their respective representatives “continued to disclose sensitive information regarding the revision process to the public.”

Their media releases and press conferences, according to the tribunal, are “in clear violation” of the court's resolutions.

“To be sure, the statements of the parties with respect to matters or concerns already referred to or pending resolution of the Tribunal, as well as statements or remarks pertaining to the integrity of the revision process are within the clear ambit of the sub judice rule,” the tribunal said.

“In this regard to preserve the sanctity of the proceedings, both parties are hereby directed to show cause and explain why they should not be cited in contempt by the Tribunal,” the PET added.

The ballot recount started on April 2, with precincts from Camarines Sur, one of the pilot provinces that Marcos identified.

Since the recount, the two camps have made public statements on recount developments.

READ: Marcos claims wet ballots, missing audit logs as recount begins | Marcos' wet ballots no proof of tampering, Robredo lawyer says

Marcos was quick to claim that their camp, on the first day of recount, found that there were wet ballots and missing audit logs from the clustered ballots of Municipality of Bato, Camarines Sur.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, representing Robredo, said that Marcos’ observations do not constitute proof of electoral fraud.

Reports citing unnamed sources also continue to discuss developments of the recount, such as supposedly missing voters’ receipts.

The Robredo camp also said that the Marcoses are trying to taint the integrity of the 2016 elections with their claims.

Marcos is accusing Robredo of cheating her way to the vice presidency. She won over the son of the late dictator by a slim margin of 260,000 votes.

If Marcos wins in his electoral protest, this will mean a massive step in the efforts by his family to rehabilitate and regain the presidential palace 32 years after their patriarch was ousted from power.