(Eagle News) – To speed up the revision proceedings on his electoral protest case, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., signed a joint manifestation withdrawing motions that could “unduly delay or hamper revision proceedings” in the case that questioned his rival, Vice-President Leni Robredo’s victory.
“I’ve done everything possible to speed up this election protest. At this point, the only thing left is for Mrs. Robredo to sign the document. We are waiting,” he said in a Facebook post on his official page on Tuesday, February 6.
The joint manifestation is dated February 7, Wednesday, when it is scheduled to be filed in court.
-Robredo camp, ready to sign document, says lawyer-
Robredo’s camp, meanwhile, said they are accepting Marcos’ challenge and will sign the joint manifestation.
“We accept the challenge of Mr. Marcos and his lawyer to sign a joint motion to withdraw any and all pending motions and incidents at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal which may cause the delay of the recount of ballots from the pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental,” said
Robredo’s lawyer, Atty. Romulo Macalintal, in a statement on Tuesday.
“I am inviting Mr. Marcos and his lawyer tomorrow at 9;00 AM to sign a joint motion,” he added.
At the time he issued the statement on Tuesday, he was not yet aware that Marcos had already signed the document.
The joint manifestation stated that both Marcos and Robredo, through their counsels, “most respectfully manifest that they are hereby withdrawing any and all motions and incidents that may unduly delay or hamper the revision proceedings” in election protest for Vice-President (PET Case No. 005) filed by Marcos.
“Both the protestant (Marcos) and protestee (Robredo) further commit to refrain from filing any frivolous motion that will unwarrantedly interrupt, defer, postpone, suspend, delay, prolong and/or impede the conduct of the proceedings in this case,” the manifestation read.
“This Joint Manifestation is being filed by the parties as part of their commitment to assist this Honorable Tribunal in accomplishing its mandate to achieve a just and expeditious determination of this election contest to settle once and for all the issue of legitimacy, determination and proclamation of the true winner and lawful choice of the electorate for the position of Vice-President of the Republic of the Philippines,” it added.
The document also noted that “after all, both parties, believe that ‘obstacles and technicalities that fetter the people’s will should not stand in the way of a prompt termination of election contests.’”
Macalintal claimed they are ready to sign the document today, Wednesday, February 7.
He said this is to prove that the Robredo camp is not causing the delay in the recount of ballots.