MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday said that the Presidential Electoral Tribunal had already conducted a probe into a swimming party by election recount staff that former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has questioned.
On Monday, Marcos sought a probe into an outing by PET revisors—persons in charge of the recount—that a member of Robredo's staff had joined. The outing in Pansol, Laguna event may have given Robredo's camp a way to “infiltrate” the tribunal, Marcos claimed.
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But Robredo, through her legal team led by Romulo Macalintal, said that Marcos “is asking for an investigation despite being fully aware that the Honorable Tribunal already conducted one.”
Robredo’s camp pointed out that Marcos “conveniently omitted” that “an investigation has already been conducted where some of the personalities involved were already meted with penalties.”
Macalintal also reiterated that Marcos knew about the outing, as one of his revisors—a certain Roderick Miranda—left a "bag of snacks" for the outing. The veteran elections lawyer said that Closed Circuit Television footage of Miranda leaving the groceries should be released.
“Inasmuch as we empathize with protestant Marcos in losing the vice-presidential race, he should be more candid to the Honorable Tribunal,” Robredo’s camp said.
Marcos camp: Photos we presented don't lie
Marcos' camp, however, stood by their accusation and said that the photos they attached to their manifestation prove that one of Robredo's personnel "fraternized" with the tribunal's staff.
Vic Rodriguez, spokersperson for Marcos, also challenged the vice president to produce the said footage "provided it is authentic and not another product of her many lies."
"We have shown pictures of how she has corrupted PET [head revisors] and pictures don't lie. To date all she has are alibis and more lies," Rodriguez said in a message to repoters.
Robredo's counter-manifestation was filed a day after she addressed the issue in public.
She called out Marcos for using the case to remain in the public eye. In an interview with London-based Financial Times, Marcos expressed his desire to run for the presidency when the term of President Rodrigo Duterte expires.
READ: Bongbong mulls returning to Malacañang as president
The contested "outing" is the latest of the accusations the two parties raised in the ongoing electoral recount. The PET has already fined the two camps for violating the sub judice rule that prohibits parties from talking publicly about a pending case.
Marcos, the son of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, accused Robredo of cheating her way to the vice presidency in the 2016 national elections. The recount of ballots from Marcos' identified pilot provinces has entered its third month.