SETTLED. Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr arrives at the Supreme Court on April 17, 2017, to post a cash deposit of P36 million as initial payment for his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo. Photo by Inoue Jaena/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr asked the Supreme Court (SC) to junk the counter-protest of Vice President Leni Robredo, citing her failure to pay a fee in connection with his electoral protest.

In an omnibus motion before the High Court on Thursday, April 20, the Marcos camp said Robredo's case should be dismissed since Robredo had failed to settle the first installment of the fee required by the SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

It cited Rule 34 of the 2010 PET rules, which states, "If a party fails to make the cash deposits or additional deposits herein required within the prescribed time limit, the Tribunal may dismiss the protest or counter-protest, or take such action as it may deem equitable under the circumstances."

The PET earlier ordered Marcos and Robredo to settle a fee of P66 million and P15 million, respectively, for the recount of ballots for the electoral protest. The sum was based on the number of precincts contested by both parties in their protests.

Marcos was supposed to pay an initial fee of P36 million, while Robredo was to pay P8 million, on Monday, April 17.

Marcos personally went to the SC on Monday to make the payment. Robredo, for her part, filed a manifestation on April 12, arguing that she should pay the amount only after Marcos' payment and after an initial batch of ballots has been opened to prove the sufficiency of the protest.

Marcos' lawyers called the other camp's move a "dilatory" tactic.

"There being no issue as to the cash deposit required to be paid by the protestee/counter-protestant, there is clearly no basis for Robredo to ask this Honorable Tribunal to hold in abeyance the payment of the cash deposit for her counter-protest," the motion read.

Marcos' spokesperson, Vic Rodriguez, said the protest procedure will be faster if the counter-protest is dismissed.

"The only thing left for the Tribunal to do is to hear and decide on the case to be presented by Marcos and no one else. Furthermore, it will exclude them from filing the usual dilatory motions they have been doing," said Rodriguez.

Marcos' camp also urged the PET to proceed with the preliminary conference.

The preliminary conference is where the issues of a case are simplified and the number of witnesses are set, among other agreements. The proceedings of the case are set in motion when the court issues a preliminary conference order.

On January 26, Marcos asked the PET to set the preliminary conference for his protest that was filed 9 months ago.

Only after a preliminary conference can the initial opening of ballots from 3 identified provinces be conducted, said Rodriguez.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Robredo's election lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, stressed that they will wait for the PET's resolution on the issues they had raised in their motion.

"We will wait for the PET to resolve the matter. If the PET decides we should pay now, we will make the necessary payment," said Macalintal. – Rappler.com</s>VICE PRESIDENT Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo’s counter-protest is in danger of being junked by the Supreme Court because of her failure to pay protest fees.

This was the contention of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who asked the court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), on Monday to dismiss the counter-protest in connection with the May 2016 vice-presidential race.

In a six-page omnibus motion, the former senator stressed that his election protest should be the only one allowed to proceed following his initial payment of the election protest fee.

Robredo failed to comply with the tribunal’s order last March 21 for payment of the first installment required of both parties. The last day of payment was last Monday. Only Marcos complied.

“[T]he protestee/counter-protestant (Robredo) did not pay the required initial installment of the cash deposit in the amount of eight million pesos (P8 million) by 17 April 2017, she opted instead to file a manifestation with urgent ex-parte omnibus motion (1) for clarification; and (2) reconsideration of the resolution dated 21 March 2017.

“In view of the failure on the part of the protestee/counter-protestant to pay the first tranche of the cash deposit for her counter-protest within the deadline set by this honorable tribunal, protestant Marcos is now constrained to move for the immediate dismissal of the counter-protest in accordance with Rule 34 of the 2010 Rules of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal,” the motion stated.

Robredo’s lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, said they filed a motion on Wednesday explaining a request for a clarification as to the timing of the payment for the counter-protest, “that it could be done if and when Mr. Marcos has already established his case as protestant.”

“We will wait for the PET to resolve the matter,” Macalintal said in a statement. “If the PET decides we should pay now, we will make the necessary payment.”

Rule 34 provides that “[i]f a party fails to make the cash deposits or additional deposits herein required within the prescribed time limit, the tribunal may dismiss the protest or counter-protest, or take such action as it may deem equitable under the circumstances.”

The Marcos camp quoted the cases of Perla Garcia, et al. vs the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal and Rep. Harry Angping; and Bienvenido William D. LLoren vs Commission on Elections and Rogelio Pua Jr., where the high court upheld the dismissal of the protests for failure to make the required cash deposit.

 Marcos accused Robredo’s camp of delaying the recount .

“The filing of [Robredo’s] manifestation with urgent ex-parte omnibus motion cannot excuse Robredo from the payment of the required cash deposit since the same is obviously dilatory,” the Marcos motion stated.

“Robredo’s intention to further delay the proceedings in this case is evident from the arguments raised in her latest submission. Protestant Marcos finds it quite ironic that Robredo would ask for the deferment of the payment of her cash deposit even though she had already expressed her conformity and willingness to pay the same in her [manifestation],” it added.

Marcos, through his lawyer George Erwin Garcia, asked the PET for the setting of the preliminary conference on the protest, as mandated by Rule 29 of the PET Rules.

The PET had ruled that the case deposit for Marcos amounted to P66,223,000, or P500 for each of the 132,446 voting precincts.

In his protest, Marcos assailed the election results in 39,221 clustered precincts. He wants a recount in 36,465 precincts, and the annulment of results in the remaining 2,756. Based on Commission on Elections data, the 39,221 clustered precincts are composed of 132,446 precincts.

Marcos lost to Robredo by only 263,473 votes.</s>FORMER Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday asked the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to junk the counter-election protest filed by Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo after she failed to pay the required P8-million initial installment that was ordered by the court for her protest to prosper.

“In view of the failure on the part of the protestee-counter-protestant to pay the first tranche of the cash deposit for her counter protest within the deadline set by this Honorable Tribunal, protestant Marcos is now constrained to move for the immediate dismissal of the counter-protest,” Marcos said in an eight-page omnibus motion filed through his lawyer George Erwin Garcia before the PET.

On March 21 the SC ordered Marcos to pay P66,223,000, while Robredo was directed to pay P15,639,000.

The first payment was supposed to have been paid on or before April 14, but was moved to April 17, since Good Friday fell on that day. The second payment is set on July 14.

On April 17 Marcos was able to comply and deposited P36,023,000 in the form of a cashier’s check with the SC’s Cash Collection and Disbursement Division.

However, Robredo did not pay P8 million and instead filed a Manifestation with urgent ex-parte omnibus motion for clarification and for reconsideration of the March 21 resolution.

Marcos argued that Robredo’s filing of a manifestation with urgent ex-parte omnibus motion does not excuse her from paying the cash deposit since the same is “obviously dilatory”.

“Robredo’s intention to further delay the proceedings in this case is evident from the arguments raised in her latest submission. Protestant Marcos finds it quite ironic that Robredo would ask for the deferment of the payment of her cash deposit even though she had already expressed her conformity and willingness to pay the same in the manifestation with urgent ex-parte omnibus motion,” Garcia added.

Robredo won by 263,473 votes over Marcos in the vice-presidential race in the May 2016 elections.

Marcos questioned the results in several provinces consisting of 662 towns and their component cities, and the 2,537 clustered precincts from five highly urbanized cities.</s>'We will only pay after Mr Marcos [has] already finished the revision and the recount of the ballot,' says the Vice President's lawyer Romulo Macalintal

MANILA, Philippines – After former Senator Ferdinand Marcos settled the first half of the recount fee required by the Supreme Court (SC), will Vice President Leni Robredo pay her dues?

Robredo's election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said they are willing to pay only after the recount of ballots contested by Marcos is completed.

"We are willing to pay. We know the rules. We will only pay after Mr Marcos [has] already finished the revision and the recount of the ballot. In other words, kapag tapos na siya sa kanyang mga protesta (if he is already done with his protest)," Macalintal said in an interview on ANC's Headstart on Tuesday, April 18.

He explained: "Because the payment that we are supposed to pay is for our counter-protest. So the counter-protest will only start after the protest, and that is under rule 65 of [the] Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET)."

The SC, acting as the PET, earlier ordered Marcos and Robredo to pay a service fee for the precincts they are contesting. Marcos, who is contesting over 39,000 clustered precincts, was ordered to pay P66 million. Robredo was required to pay P15 million for the 8,042 clustered precincts she is questioning.

Both were required to settle this week the first installment of P36 million and P8 million, respectively.

Marcos, whose lawyer initially said they would file a motion for reconsideration regarding the hefty amount, paid the P36 million on Monday. He said his friends and supporters were able to raise the amount. (LOOK: Marcos' donors for the P36-million recount fee)

Robredo, meanwhile, filed a manifestation and a motion on April 12. Her lawyers argued that Marcos should first prove that his complaint has basis.

This can be done by the initial recount of ballots in 3 provinces that he will identify. Macalintal said this is also under the PET rules.

The Robredo camp also asked the PET to impose a P185-million fee on Marcos because he questioned the entire election system when he sought the preservation of the election paraphernalia of all 92,509 clustered precincts, which consist of 369,138 established precincts.

Robredo's lawyers again denied the accusation of the Marcos camp that they are delaying the proceedings.

"How could you say we are delaying? If you say that we are delaying, you are actually accusing the PET of not knowing what to do that we can actually delay the proceeding. That is an insult against the competence and the integrity of the PET. Because if the PET sees that we are delaying it, then we could be cited in contempt of court," said Macalintal. – Rappler.com</s>LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Vice President Leni Robredo remains unfazed by the online bashing she has been getting and the electoral protest filed by former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., saying she will just continue her work to help poor Filipinos.

In a forum at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños on Friday, Robredo talked about her engagement with poor communities through what she called “tsinelas leadership,” a reference to grassroots approach to governance that her late husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, had popularized.

“We need a government that truly makes an effort to listen, especially to those who are voiceless and powerless,” she said. “This is why I devoted nearly my entire career to strengthening communities at the grassroots.”

“The tragedy is that, when people have been poor and left out of the decision-making process for so long, they no longer seek empowerment,” she said. “IInstead, they seek saviors who will give them what they need.”

A student asked for her reaction to the barrage of online bashing that she had been getting from supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The people who [we] talk to know nothing about what is happening on Facebook,” she said. “They do not care about the arguments on Facebook because what they care about is what they will eat every day. When [we] talk to them, the bashing doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Why would I spend time on that when there are people … who have no one to rely on but us?” she added.

On the electoral protest filed by Marcos, son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Robredo said: “The election is over. I think he knows that he did not win … but the desire to return to power, that is what is sad.”

“One of the reasons I got convinced to run was because of an impending Marcos return,” she said. /atm</s>MANILA – Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos made his first installment payment required from him by Supreme Court as his poll protest fee against Vice President Leni Robredo.

The SC, seating as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) required Marcos of pay Php66 million as protest fee with half required to be paid by April 17. The balance must be paid on or before July 14. The amount will be used by the PET to transport the election paraphernalia to the electoral tribunal for their review, the www.sunstar.com.ph reported.

Marcos said that he was able to raise the amount through his supporters and friends.

“Sila and kumuha ng suporta at tulong para mabuo and Php36.02 million,” Marcos claimed.

He hopes that with the payment of the first installment, the justices will be compelled to begin the preliminary conference on his petition.

Marcos filed an electoral protest with the PET contesting the win of Robredo in last year’s polls by a mere 200,000 votes. He petitioned the PET to nullify the results of the vice presidential election and open contested election returns.

Marcos is contesting votes cast in favor of Robredo in Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Maguindanao.

The SC likewise ordered Robredo to pay PhP15,439,000 since was also contesting vote results in 8,042 clustered precincts.</s>Fifteen Liberal Party (LP) lawmakers from a pro-Duterte coalition of parties in the House of Representatives met with Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, agreeing to block all attempts to impeach her, one of the LP members said yesterday.

Deputy Speaker Miro Quimbo, a ranking LP leader, said the consensus was reached when the LP members met with Robredo at her office in Quezon City.

He said the LP members also had pledged their “strongest commitment of support” to Robredo, currently LP chair.

Robredo had drawn the ire of supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte after she sent a video message to a United Nations event raising alarm over extrajudicial killings linked to Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs.

Quimbo said the threat of impeachment hanging over Robredo and Mr. Duterte was among the topics of the meeting at Robredo’s office.

In a statement, Quimbo said devoting the House’s time to “any impeachment complaint today will only be divisive.”

“It will only serve to distract us from the many important matters that Congress should be giving priority to,” Quimbo said.

He said the LP members “categorically took a position that we will not support any of the impeachment complaints filed against the leaders of the land.” Quimbo did not mention Mr. Duterte’s name in the statement, though.

At least 32 House members still belong to LP, the party in power during the Aquino administration. Five of them had formed an independent opposition bloc.

In March, an impeachment complaint was filed against Mr. Duterte by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, accusing the President of the mass murder of thousands of drug suspects, amassing P2.2 billion in unexplained wealth and absconding on his duty to defend Philippine territory against China.

Robredo’s video message to the annual meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs became public on the same day Alejano’s complaint was filed.

Marcos loyalists, led by lawyer Oliver Lozano, filed an impeachment complaint against Robredo at the Speaker’s office for endorsement. Another group is building a case against her.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, a bosom buddy of Mr. Duterte, expressed support for the impeachment complaint against Robredo.

Robredo confirmed the meeting with the 15 LP members.

“They said they agreed among themselves that they will protect me,” she said in a transcript of an interview sent by her staffers.

Robredo said she would discuss the matter with more LP members soon but said there is no plan, yet, for LP members to bolt the pro-Duterte coalition in the House.</s>Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana assures the Vice President the defense establishment and the military are loyal to the Constitution and duly constituted authorities

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo was given a security briefing on Tuesday, April 18, in a formal ceremony inside Camp Aguinaldo, the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

She was given a 15-minute briefing on the security challenges that the country is facing, as well as the military's capabilities and accomplishments.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana led the program and delivered welcome remarks. Major General Noel Clement, AFP deputy chief of staff for operations, gave the briefing.

"The Vice President was made aware of the capabilities the [military] now possesses, the security challenges it faces, [how it] copes in various mission areas locally and abroad, and the military's way forward in its firm and continuing commitment to bring about conditions for peace, progress, and security for the country with the support of other departments, local governments, and their respective constituents," reads a joint statement issued by the Department of National Defense (DND), AFP, and the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

Robredo was also rendered the customary military arrival honors when she entered the camp.

In his remarks, Lorenzana assured Robredo that the defense establishment and the military are loyal to the Constitution and duly constituted authorities.

"He (Lorenzana) expressed the continuing and unwavering loyalty and commitment of the DND – the AFP included – to the Constitution and the duly constituted authorities," reads their joint statement.

Lorenzana also assured Robredo that "every member of the Department, the Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines will have no reservations to perpetuate its mandate of ensuring the defense and security of the state and the protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The statement said Robredo was satisfied with the accomplishments of the military.

The security briefing comes a day after defeated vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr took his election protest a step forward before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

On Monday, April 17, he paid P36 million as initial installment of the recount fee necessary so that his protest would move forward.

The security briefing for Robredo was arranged long ago, although the date was only set last week, said Colonel Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office. – Rappler.com</s>The failure of Vice President Leni Robredo to pay P8 million in cash deposit should prompt the outright dismissal of her counterprotest, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday told the Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

In a six-page omnibus motion, the son and namesake of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos also urged the PET to set the preliminary conference of his election protest against Robredo, who edged him out in the vice presidential race in the May 2016 polls by over 200,000 votes.

Robredo, represented by veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, had asked the high court to allow her to settle the first tranche of the required cash bond for her own protest at a later time pending the determination of the merits of Marcos’ protest.

The election tribunal has directed Marcos to pay P66 million for the precincts covered by his protest while Robredo was required to post a P15 million cash bond for her counterprotest.

They were both ordered to settle the first installment of the cash deposit on April 14. Marcos made a payment of P36 million as first installment of his protest fee.

The former senator, President Duterte’s staunch ally, said the vice president’s action was only intended to further delay the resolution of his accusation that she had cheated him.

“In view of the failure on the part of (Robredo) to pay the first tranche of the cash deposit for her counterprotest within the deadline set by this honorable tribunal, protestant Marcos is now constrained to move for the immediate dismissal of the counterprotest,” Marcos said in his petition.

He said the dismissal of Robredo’s counterprotest was “warranted” as the PET had previously thrown out two election cases because of the failure of the petitioners to settle the required cash deposits on time.

“There being no issue as to the cash deposit required to be paid by (Robredo), there is clearly no basis for (her) to ask this honorable tribunal to hold in abeyance the payment of the cash deposit for her counterprotest,” said Marcos.
Bongbong Marcos asks the Philippine Supreme Court to dismiss a counter-protest by current vice president Leni Robredo regarding her narrow victory in last year's national elections.