FORMER senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asked the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to deny the plea of Vice President Leni Robredo to secure soft copies of the ballot images from the pilot provinces for the vote recount in connection with the May 2016 elections.
Marcos, who demanded a recount claiming he was cheated in the vice presidential race, said he was the one who paid for the cost of decryption and printing of the ballot images from the pilot provinces amounting to P2,974,075.
“Since Robredo did not contribute any share in the expenses and supplies for this undertaking, she should not be allowed by this Honorable Tribunal to obtain the soft [and even printed] copies of the decrypted images of the ballots, election returns, audit logs and other relevant documents for all the protested clustered precincts of the pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental used during the last May 9, 2016 national and local elections,” Marcos said in a comment on Nov. 7.
In justifying her request, Robredo said the Commission on Elections assured the parties during the start of the decryption process on Oct. 23 that it would provide soft copies provided that the PET gave its consent.
“Thus, it would be for the benefit of the parties that they be allowed to secure the soft copies of the ballot images and other reports from the decrypted secure digital cards to protect their rights and interests in this election protest,” Robredo said.
“Should the Honorable Tribunal grant this motion, protestee Robredo will coordinate with Comelec on the procedure and supplies needed. This motion is not intended for delay but dictated solely by the foregoing exigencies.”
Marcos’ camp said the decryption and printing would take at least seven months.
Marcos lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes in last year’s elections which he claimed was marred by fraud.