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Monday, December 13, 2004
Electoral Tribunal defers hearing on Poe's poll protest (3:49 p.m.)
MANILA -- The Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) may order a deferment of the oral arguments on the election protest filed by opposition candidate Fernando Poe, Jr. against President Arroyo.
The PET earlier set the oral argument on the affirmative defenses raised in the electoral protest Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday's schedule is the second such hearing the PET would have conducted on Poe's election protest.
"The hearing set for tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. concerning the election protest of Fernando Poe, Jr. is likely to be cancelled to be reset on another date depending on the agreement of both parties and the approval of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal," said Ismael Khan, chief of the Supreme Court's Public Information Office Monday.
"We are saddened by this development and we are hoping for his speedy recovery," Khan added.
Speaking to reporters, Acting PET Clerk of Court Luzviminda Puno, explained that the PET ruling was sought by the parties ahead of the latest development in Poe's condition.
"Both parties have earlier filed their respective manifestation---this was done even before FPJ suffered a stroke---requesting that the hearing be deferred for next year but until this morning (Monday morning) the PET has yet to officially act on the manifestations," she clarified.
Last July 22, 2004, FPJ and his vice presidential running mate, former Senator Loren Legarda asked the PET to review the results of the May 10, 2004 elections.(Benjamin Pulta) |
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