Former Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda called on the supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo to chip in for the legal fees involved in the electoral protest filed against her by former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
"Our job to help her is not over. So many of us voted for her to be our Vice President. She has come to a crossroad early in her Vice Presidency. She needs our help to pay for her legal defense," wrote Lacierda in a Facebook post.
Lacierda launched the "Piso Para Kay Leni Legal Defense Fund" campaign to cover the "costs for the preparation of documents and evidences."
He said a peso from everyone who has voted for Robredo in the May 9 polls can "ensure that she has the fighting chance to defend not only herself but also all of us who voted for her."
"There were 14,418,817 voters who played a role to ensure her victory in the VP race. If each one of us will donate a minimum of 1 peso to her legal defense fund, she would not have to worry about her case and she can focus on her job as Vice President," he said.
Robredo on Wednesday said she was more concerned with the legal fees rather than the substance of the electoral protest case, as her lawyers, including Romulo Macalintal, volunteered their services to her for free during the canvassing.
She said, it would be embarrassing if Macalintal would still represent her now that the case has reached the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).
Macalintal, however, said that he is willing to work for Robredo sans the attorney's fees.
READ: Leni: Bongbong poll protest not my top priority
"Let us not tarry in helping her. She once needed us in the election, she needs us once more to help her fight this electoral protest. Let us help set up the Piso Para Kay Leni Legal Defense Fund," said Lacierda.
But Robredo's spokesperson, Georgina Hernandez said while the vice president is "truly grateful for this expression of concern" she "would not want to impose on the people."
"We continue to have faith that in the end, the good will prevail," she added.
In a 1,200-page petition, Marcos accused Robredo's camp of committing "traditional election abuses" which included vote-buying, ballot-switching, tampering of the transmission system and intimidation.
Marcos also cited Smartmatic's alteration of a script in the transparency server in the evening of May 9, and alleged weaknesses in the automated election system.
Robredo, for her part, has repeatedly denied the senator's allegations.
Edwin Lacierda, Leni Robredo, Bongbong Marcos, vice-presidential race, elections, electoral protest