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Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Leni Robredo. CONSULT PHOTOS FROM THE FILE
MANILA, Philippines— The Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), again warned both the sides of Vice President Leni Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos of the existing gag order issued to them.
In February 2018, the PET issued a resolution prohibiting the parties from discussing the merits of their case with the public while it is pending in court.
A month later, the PET issued another resolution reminding both camps to follow the sub judice rule.
A sub judice rule means that the parties to a case are prohibited from discussing the merits of their case with the public while it is pending in court.
The warning was reissued, but this time the PET told both parties that “any violation of this order will be dealt with more severely.”
“In view of the recent appearances and statements of the parties, their lawyers and their agents in various media, including print, television and social media, the Presidential Electoral Tribunal reiterates its Resolutions of February 13, 2018 and March 20 of 2018 directing the parties to strictly observe the sub judice rule, ”said the PET.
“These are not the right places to litigate your case. The parties, their lawyers and their agents are strongly advised that any other violation of this order will be dealt with more severely, ”he added.
The parties again began to argue after the Marcos camp measure to inhibit Associate Judge in charge Marvic Leonen. Marcos and his lawyer Atty. Vic Rodríguez held a virtual press conference explaining the motion that they have presented to the PET, praying, among others, the inhibition of Leonen.
On the same day, the Attorney General’s Office filed a similar motion. Both Marcos’ camp and GSO said Leonen was delaying the resolution of his election protest until it becomes moot and academic with the nomination for the 2022 election in October next year.
The Robredo camp immediately attacked the Marcos camp for seeking exclusion from Leonen from the cases, telling the former senator to “stop acting like a spoiled brat who cries when he doesn’t get his candy.”
His attorney Emil Marañón also appeared on CNN Philippines promising to challenge the Attorney General’s Office (OSG) filing a separate plea before the SC that supported Marcos’s call for Leonen’s restraint and the drawing of the case to another judge.
“We will present the necessary arguments to raise our objections regarding number one, the participation of the Attorney General. Second, the real merit of what the Attorney General has presented. For us, this is a very abnormal circumstance. You have to question it, ”said Marañón.
Marañón observed the similarity of the writing of Calida and Marcos, which indicates a possible collusion between the two.
In June 2018, both camps were fined P50,000 for violating the gag order.
On September 10, 2019, another warning was issued after the counting and review of ballots was concluded and ended in the three test provinces of Iloilo, Negros Orienta and Camarines Sur involving 5,415 polling places.
The PET noted that despite the directives, various news reports have shown that the parties, their lawyers and / or representatives, have continued to disclose sensitive information about the public review process, in clear violation of the aforementioned resolutions. [ac]
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