By Raymund Antonio

Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday said how the Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, decides on her election case will be the test of the electoral process and justice system in the country.

“Hindi lang ito laban naming dalawa, pero test din ito ng entire electoral process, test ito ng justice system. So ang pinaka-issue dito is bigger than both of us, so ganoon siya kahalaga,” Robredo told reporters in a media interview.

(This is not only a fight between the two of us, but this is also a test of the entire electoral process and justice system. So the main issue here is bigger than both of us, so it is very important.)

Robredo was a keynote speaker at the 14th National Convention on Statistics held in Quezon City, where she was asked about the impending PET decision on the electoral protest filed against her by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The SC justices may decide on the election case within the month after the completion of the initial recount on the three pilot provinces–Camarines Sur, Negros Oriental, and Iloilo–which covered 5,415 election precincts.

The PET ruling would determine whether or not the rest of Marcos’ protest has any merit for it to proceed with the remaining contested voting precincts.

Robredo has high hopes the SC would render a “favorable decision” on the electoral protest she is facing.

“Kailangang magtiwala tayo sa justice system. Aabangan natin kung paano magdedesisyon, paano magdedesisyon iyong PET,” Robredo, who is the leader of the opposition, said.

(We have to trust the justice system. We will wait how the PET will decide.)

“Iyong sa atin kasi, iyong pagdesisyon, ano naman ito, base sa datos. Dahil nagkaroon ng proseso. so hindi natin nakikita na puwedeng maging unfavorable,” she added.

(For me, the decision will be based on data. Because there was a process so we don’t expect an unfavorable decision.)

The Vice President explained there was a lot at stake when the justices vote since their decision will have an impact on the credibility of the 2016 elections, from which she and President Rodrigo Duterte were given their mandate.

Robredo said she also hoped for a speedy resolution of the election case to stop those propagating lies about it.

“Matagal na din naming ninais na matapos na ito, kasi gaya ng sinabi ko in the past, hanggang kasi nandiyan pa siya, nagkakaroon lang ng platform para mag-propaganda, na kadalasan fake news iyong mga lumalabas,” she said.

(We have long wanted this to end, like I have said in the past, as long as the case is not resolved, there is a platform for them to make propaganda which is always fake news.)