By Hannah Torregoza

Members of the Senate minority bloc on Tuesday threw their support behind Vice President Leni Robredo as they rejected the Supreme Court’s decision on the electoral protest of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

The SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), voted to release the report on the initial recount of ballots in 3 pilot provinces and require parties to comment.”

“Naninindigan ang Minorya sa Senado sa makatuwiran at makabuluhang pag-iral ng ating mga batas. Mariin kaming tumututol sa desisyon ng Korte Supremang pumapabor kay Ginoong Marcos sa electoral protest nito ukol sa posisyon ng Bise Presidente (We, the Senate minority, vehemently object to the SC’s ruling in favor of Mr. Marcos in his electoral protest against the position of the Vice President. The minority calls for a fair and just implementation of our electoral laws),” said the minority group composed of Senators Leila De Lima, Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan in a statement.

The group said the simplest and truthful chronology of events was that Robredo won the vice presidency during the May 2016 national elections.

Despite Robredo’s objection, the recount took place and showed that she was leading in the places where Marcos claimed he was robbed of votes.

“Ang dapat mangyari ngayon: I-dismiss na ang kaso. Tantanan na ang kasinungalingan, (What should happen now is to dismiss the case. They should stop the lies),” they said.

“Tanggapin na ang katotohanang si Leni Robredo ang Pangalawang Pangulo ng bansa (It’s time to accept the truth that Leni Robredo is the Vice President of the nation),” the minority said.

But instead of accepting defeat and heeding the voice of the people, the SC decided otherwise.

“Pinapakomento ang dalawang panig sa isa pang petisyon ni Ginoong Marcos (Both sides are being asked to comment on Marcos’ petition),”

“Bakit po kaya tila isinantabi ng Korte ang sarili nitong patakaran, na nagsasabing dapat nang i-dismiss ang kaso kung hindi maipakita ang paghabol ni Ginoong Marcos sa mga probinsyang siya na ang pumili? (Why did the SC suddenly chose to set aside their policies which said they should dismiss the case in the event Marcos fails to prove his lead in the provinces he himself chose?)” they pointed out.

“Kailan po kaya matatapos ang kasong ito? Kapag nabaliktad na ang mundo, at naging totoo na ang kasinungalingan? (When will this case end. When the lie finally becomes the truth?)” they lamented.

The Senate minority bloc said they support the dissenting opinion of Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio who stated that Robredo clearly won in the three provinces Marcos’ himself has chosen for the recount.

“Si Bise Presidente Leni Robredo ang nakakalap ng mas maraming boto noong nakaraang eleksyon. Siya ang halal, ligal, karapat-dapat, at tunay na Bise Presidente ng ating bansa. Nananawagan kami sa lahat na manindigan din sa katotohanang ito (It was Vice President Leni Robredo who garnered more votes during the election. She is the elected, legal, worthy and the true Vice President of our nation. We call on everyone to stand on this truth),” the minority bloc stressed.