THE camp of Vice President Leni Robredo said on Tuesday former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should pay the expenses that may be required of him to pay on account of his election protest.
The vice president’s lawyers, Romulo Macalintal and Maria Bernadette Sardillo, maintained their argument in a manifestation with motion for clarification filed with the Comelec.
Macalintal said the Comelec is footing the monthly lease of a warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna at P5.62 million to place in custody the ballots and other election paraphernalia being contested.
“This was disclosed by Comelec pursuant to the Resolution issued by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal on April 18, 2017. Robredo was notified by the Office of the Solicitor General on June 8, 2017,” he said, quoting the PET’s order.
“If only to avoid confusion on who will be liable for these amounts, we are constrained to seek a clarification,” Macalintal said.
In November 2016, the PET ordered Comelec to itemize the costs it may be required to pay under its automated election contracts. The Comelec, through the OSG, replied that the costs could reach P2.08 billion.
“This is because of the non-turnover of 97,365 VCMs on or before Dec. 1, 2016,” it said.
Marcos asked for the annulment of elections and revision of votes in 39,221 clustered precincts, but also maintained that the 2016 national and local elections were null and void.I
n August 2016 and September 2016, Marcos opposed the closure and stripping activities on theVCMs, saying that he wanted the VCMs examined.
“Because of this development, Comelec must clarify who should pay the P2.08 billion,” Macalintal said.