THE lead counsel of Vice President Leni Robredo called the claim of "massive electoral fraud" by the camp of her defeated rival Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos as "uncalled for and irresponsible."
Romulo Macalintal, lead lawyer for Robredo, called on Marcos and his lawyers to apologize to the Filipino people once it is proven that their statement "had no visible means of legal or factual support as they are baseless and clearly self-serving."
Macalintal further challenged Marcos to enter into a written agreement that if he and his lawyers' claim of "massive election fraud" based on alleged data from 13 SD cards being decrypted by the Comelec is not proven, then Marcos should withdraw his election protest against Robredo.
"[I]f the verification and examination of these 13 SD cards by the Comelec or concerned agencies proved the existence of such 'massive fraud' which favored Robredo and caused the defeat of Marcos, then I am also willing to surrender to the Supreme Court my license to practice law and will withdraw as lawyer of Robredo," Macalintal said.
Macalintal suggested that Marcos and his lawyers file a Joint Manifestation before the Comelec to, in the meantime, suspend the verification and examination of these 13 SD cards until such agreement is signed by the parties in the presence of the Comelec officials.
"We maintain that these SD cards are not even part of Marcos protest, hence, cannot be admitted as evidence in his protest. But nevertheless we agreed to have them examined for purposes of transparency and to prove that Robredo is not hiding anything nor is she afraid to face Marcos in his baseless and frivolous protest," Macalintal said. (SunStar Philippines)