President Duterte is ready to abide by the final ruling of the Supreme Court on the poll protest filed by former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo.
The President said he would follow the court decision even if it rules that Robredo is the “rightful occupant” of the vice presidency.
Duterte previously expressed doubts on the competence of Robredo, concerned that the country might suffer if she becomes the president.
“Look, the interpretation of the Electoral Tribunal forms part of the law of the land. Kung i-appeal nila eventually to the Supreme Court and it will be sustained or affirmed, we will just follow the law,” he said during a press conference in Malacañang Tuesday night.
“But if the law says that Robredo is the rightful occupant, then we’ll just have to follow the final orders of the Electoral Tribunal or the Supreme Court. What is important here is that we follow the law,” he added.
The Supreme Court, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has reportedly completed its recount and revision of ballots in three test provinces. The recount involved 5,400 voting precincts in Ioilo, Camarines Sur, and Negros Oriental.
The tribunal, however, has yet to take action on the report submitted by Justice Alfredo Caguioa on the results of the ballot recount. It is reportedly expected to decide whether or not to proceed with the vote revision on other precincts identified in the poll protest filed by Marcos.
Marcos has filed an election protest in June 2016, alleging there was massive cheating that led to Robredo’s victory in the May polls. Robredo won the vice presidency with more than 260,000 votes against Marcos. (Genalyn Kabiling)
