(Eagle News) — The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has issued a gag order for Senator Bongbong Marcos, Vice President Leni Robredo and their lawyers to prevent them from discussing the merits of the vice presidential electoral protest.
The order dated Feb. 13 was issued after the two camps repeatedly engaged in a word war in the media.
Their most recent exchange involved what Marcos said were the “mysterious” squares on ballot images that reportedly proved he had been robbed of the vice presidency.
Robredo’s camp denied the allegations, noting that the “mysterious squares” were mere “features” added by the Commission on Elections in time for the 2016 elections.
In the resolution, the PET also ordered Marcos to comment on Robredo’s motion that seeks the withdrawal of “any and all pending motions which may delay recount proceedings.”
Marcos alleged in his electoral protest filed in June 2016 that Robredo’s camp cheated in the May 2016 polls.
He sought the annulment of votes cast in three provinces – Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao–and a recount in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.
Robredo was declared the winner of the vice presidential race, with only 263,473 votes more than Marcos
