The Supreme Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has penalized the camps of Vice President Leni Robredo and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for violating the sub judice rule amid their exchange of public statements on the ongoing revision of votes for the 2016 vice presidential race.
In a resolution, the PET, headed by Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, found both parties guilty of violating the sub judice rule and imposed a fine of P50,000 each.
The tribunal ordered Robredo and Marcos on April 10 to show cause and explain why they should not be cited in contempt for violating its February directive for both camps to strictly observe the sub judice rule.
The tribunal noted that despite the directive, several news reports have shown that the parties, their counsels and/or representatives have continued to disclose sensitive information regarding the revision process.
“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 and remarks pertaining to the integrity of the revision process are within the clear ambit of the sub judice rule,” the show cause order read.
Both camps denied violating the rule in their respective answers, but failed to convince the tribunal.
The manual recount and revision of votes in the protest filed by Marcos against Robredo started in April. The process covers three provinces identified by Marcos in his protest.
The PET has finished its manual recount and revision of ballots in Camarines Sur. The tribunal has yet to complete the process for Iloilo and Negros Oriental.
The result of the recount and revision of ballots in the three provinces will enable the PET to decide whether it will pursue the same process for the other cities and provinces named by Marcos in his protest.