MANILA - The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has granted Vice President Leni Robredo’s request to be furnished copies of ballot images that are the subject of former Senator Bongbong Marcos' recount plea under his poll protest in connection with her victory in the May 2016 elections.

In a Nov. 7 resolution, the tribunal granted Robredo’s plea for soft copies of the ballots and reports from the decrypted secure digital (SD) cards from the three pilot provinces in Marcos’ protest namely Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental.

Robredo’s camp welcomed the ruling, saying it would provide them an “additional blanket of security to votes received by VP Leni as they decrypt the contents of the SD cards.”

In her motion, Robredo explained that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had assured parties on Oct. 23 that it would provide soft copies, for as long as it was cleared with the PET.

“[I]t would be for the benefit of the parties that they be allowed to secure the soft copies of the ballot images and other reports from the decrypted secure digital cards to protect their rights and interests in this election protest,” Robredo’s motion read.

Marcos opposed Robredo’s plea, pointing out that he shouldered all expenses for the decryption and printing of the ballot images amounting to P2.974 million while Robredo did not contribute at all.

Robredo won over Marcos by merely 263,473 votes, making the 2016 vice presidential race the tightest in recent history.

• PET allows hiring of 60 personnel for Marcos' VP poll protest