'I don't have a fake diploma, I don't spread fake news'
Vice President Leni Robredo. Jire Carreon, ABS-CBN News
MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday rebuffed former Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos who said he was "robbed" of his supposed 6-year-term as vice president.
"Parang nakakatawa naman na siya nagsasabi nun. Hindi ata ako yung may ugaling mag-rob. Lahat ng na-achieve ko pinagpaguran ko, wala akong fake diplomas. Hindi ako naglalabas ng fake news," Robredo told reporters.
(It seems laughable that he said that. I'm not the one who has a habit of robbing. I worked hard for everything I achieved, I don't have any fake diplomas. I don't release fake news.)
"Parang dapat hindi niya kaya yun sabihin. Between the two of us hindi ako yung robber."
(I don't think he could say that. Between the two of us, I'm not the robber.)
This, after the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, ordered the release of the report on the initial recount of votes.
The high court also ordered Marcos and Robredo to submit a memoranda "on the various issues relating to the jurisdiction and other matters" on the former senator's third cause of action, which seeks the annulment of election results in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao.
Marcos, in a chance interview, said he was "frustrated" by the court's announcement but that he would comply with its orders. When asked by reporters if he felt "robbed" of his supposed 6-year-term as vice president, Marcos answered "yes, definitely."
"By conducting the cheating in the election, they robbed the proper Vice President who won the election, myself, from the 3 years of service. Yes, I do," he said.
Robredo, meantime, said the only "acceptable" decision for the Supreme Court to make in the election protest would be to dismiss it.
She cited Rule 65 of the 2010 PET Rules, which allows the tribunal to dismiss the election protest if after initial determination of the grounds for protest involving 3 pilot provinces, it finds that the protestant will most likely fail to make out a case.
Marcos chose the provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental.
"Nanatili kami sa aming paniwala na walang ibang acceptable na decision kung di i-dismiss yung protest in accordance with Rule 65 ng PET and in accordance with the results of the recount," she said.
(We maintain our belief that there's no other acceptable decision but to dismiss the protest in accordance with Rule 65 ng PET and in accordance with the results of the recount.)
"Pag nilabas na nung committee yung kanilang report, makikita ninyo walang substantial recovery. So talagang the only way to go is dismiss the protest."
(Once the committee releases its report, it would show there was no substantial recovery. Really, the only way to go is dismiss the protest.)
Robredo said Marcos was only dragging the case to have a "platform for propaganda."
"Nagkakaroon siya ng platporma para magpropaganda na siya yung totoong nahirang na Vice President. Tapos na yun eleksyon, prinoclaim tayo ng Kongreso," she said
(It gives him a platform for propaganda that he was the elected vice president. The election is finished, we were proclaimed by Congress.)
"Yung resulta galing sa Comelec, prinoclaim tayo ng Kongreso panalo tayo. Nagkaroon ng recount, panalo ulit tayo. Ilang panalo pa ang kailangan para maniwala siya hindi siya yung nanalo?"
(The results came from Comelec, Congress proclaimed us as the winner. There was a recount, we won again. How many victories do we need in order for Marcos to believe that he did not win?)