THE Supreme Court (SC) acting as the Presidential Electoral (PET) was urged to order former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to pay a total of P2 billion for the Commission on Election's (Comelec) retention of the 92,509 Vote Counting Machines and other election equipment used last polls.
At a press conference, the camp of Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo said their motion filed with the SC on Tuesday is consistent with the Senate Electoral Tribunal's (SET) decision on the poll protest filed by senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino against Senator Leila de Lima, in which the legislative body ordered Tolentino to pay P2 million for the cost of the retention of 106 VCMs subject of his protest.
Robredo's lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, said in their motion, they told the SC that Marcos should pay for the retention of poll equipment as he was the one who requested the "technical examination, forensic investigation, verification and analysis" of the said VCMs.
In a manifestation filed by the Comelec with the PET dated May 25, it said that "it may be required to pay a total of P2.08 billion on account of Marcos' poll protest."
This is without prejudice to Comelec requiring the protestant to shoulder such costs.
Macalintal believes that no government fund should be used for Marcos' poll protest against Robredo, like in the case of Tolentino.
"Thus, we ask the PET to immediately resolve our pending clarification whether Marcos should be held liable for the P2 billion cost of the retention of the said VCMs by the Comelec or a resolution be issued directing Marcos to deposit the said amount," Macalintal said.
The PET is yet to conduct ballot revision in the pilot provinces in Marcos' protest, namely Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.
It has recently designated a revision team that will locate and examine the ballots being contested by Marcos. (SunStar Philippines)