Marcos camp lauds Robredo for her ‘patriotism’
THE camp of Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday did not pose any objections to the canvassing of votes being undertaken by Congress sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), paving the way for a swift proclamation of president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice president-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Robredo ran for president in the May 9 elections and ranked second to Marcos in the quick count conducted by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).
Robredo’s election lawyer Romulo Macalintal made the manifestation during a joint session of Congress at the plenary of the Batasang Pambansa which was convened to allow the two chambers to perform their constitutional duty of counting the votes for president and vice president and proclaim the winners either today or tomorrow.
“Your honors, in her public statements Vice President Leni Robredo asked her supporters that we need to accept the decision of the majority,” Macalintal told the floor, as he quoted the Vice President’s earlier statement that her supporters should accept the result of the May 9 national elections “even if it does not reflect our dreams and aspirations.”
So as not to delay the proceedings of the NBOC, Macalintal raised a continuing manifestation “that we interpose no objection to the inclusion in the canvass of all certificates of canvass (COCs) for president from various provincial and city boards of canvassers found by this honorable board to be authentic and duly executed in accordance with Sec. 20 of RA 7166 (Synchronized Elections Act).”
Macalintal later asked the NBOC that lawyers of the Robredo camp be allowed to “respectfully waive our appearance before this joint committee to further expedite (the) proceedings.”
He later quoted the “Athlete’s Prayer” composed by the late American poet Berton Braley:
“If I should win, let it be by the code, with my faith and my honor held high. If I should lose, let me stand by the road and cheer as the winners go by.”
Senate Majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri wished the Vice President well in her future endeavors.
Marcos’ chief of staff Victor Rodriguez thanked Robredo and her team for their “deep patriotism.”
Rodriguez said they were pleasantly surprised by the pronouncement of Macalintal but welcomed it when they called for everyone to accept the majority decision.
“We join in the manifestation of my distinguished colleague and one of the election law practitioners, Atty. Romulo Macalintal. Likewise, we would like to recognize and thank the patriotism exhibited by Vice President Leni Robredo for expressly recognizing the integrity and the result of the recently concluded general elections,” Rodriguez said after Macalintal’s announcement.
He later said, in a press conference, that Macalintal’s pronouncement also meant that Robredo recognized the vibrancy of the country’s democracy and the “very clear win and mandate given by the Filipino people to Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.”
Malacañang also welcomed the decision of the camp of Robredo to expedite the canvassing of votes.
“The decision of the camp of Vice President Ma. Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo to expedite the canvassing of votes for President is a positive development. As we earlier articulated, let us respect the outcome of the election and give chance to the winning candidates to fulfill their campaign platform,” Communications Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said.
Zubiri welcomed the gesture of both camps and said, “Let the healing begin!” while House majority leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez praised the Vice President, who is the leader of the opposition, for her “graciousness” in defeat.
The joint public session was opened and presided over by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
In his opening remarks, Velasco said that members of Congress have gathered together “to ensure that the will of the people in choosing the two highest officials of our country is respected.”
“Let democracy reign in our country! Let the voice of the people be heard,” Velasco said.
“Ito po ay ang iniatang na sagradong tungkulin ng ating Konstitusyon — ang magbantay at siguruhin ang wastong pagbilang ng mga boto para sa susunod na mamumuno ng ating bansa (This is a sacred task given to us by our Constitution — to guard and ensure an accurate count of votes for the next leaders of our country).”
JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
After determining the presence of a quorum in both chambers, the House and the Senate adopted the rules of the joint public session and immediately proceeded with the creation of a Joint Congressional Committee that would do the actual count of votes for president and vice president.
Velasco designated 11 House lawmakers as regular and alternate members of the joint committee, including House contingent chairperson, Romualdez.
Aside from Romualdez, other regular members are Reps. Jesus Crispin Remulla, Abraham Tolentino of Cavite, Kristine Singson-Meehan of Ilocos Sur, Sharon Garin (PL, AAMBIS-OWA), Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe of Zamboanga City, and Juliet Marie De Leon-Ferrer of Negros Occidental.
The alternate members are Reps. Juan Pablo Bondoc of Pampanga, John Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, Alfredo Garbin Jr. (PL, Ako Bicol), and Stella Luz Quimbo of Marikina.
On the part of the Senate, Sotto appointed as regular members Zubiri, who is the chair of the contingent; Nancy Binay, Franklin Drilon, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, and Pia Cayetano.
Sotto also designated Senators Manuel Lapid, Risa Hontiveros, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Ronald dela Rosa as alternate members.
Under the rules, the joint committee shall decide on all questions and issues raised involving the COC by a majority of vote of its members, each panel voting separately.
In case the two panels disagree, the decision of the chairperson shall prevail. In case of a deadlock, the matter shall be resolved by the Speaker and the Senate President.
Once the canvassing is completed, the joint committee report shall be approved and signed by a majority of the members of the Joint Committee, each panel voting separately.
The report shall then be submitted to the joint public session for consideration and approval.
A majority of senators and House members, voting separately, shall approve the report and adopt the resolution of both chambers proclaiming the duly elected president and vice president.
Upon adoption of the resolution of both houses, the Speaker and the Senate President shall proclaim the president-elect and the vice president-elect.
Sotto said any discrepancies in the COCs will not stop the NBOC from canvassing the votes for the presidential and vice-presidential race.
“It will be set aside so that the canvassing will continue and then later on it will be taken up to find out how the discrepancy came… It will just be set aside, the canvassing will continue,” Sotto said in a chance interview.
Sotto said that all questions regarding the COCs should be resolved before the NBOC can proclaim the winning candidates.
“Ideally, dapat walang questions, dapat resolved lahat, walang basta noted lang. Walang ganoon, I will not allow it. Set aside and then resolve later (Ideally there should be no questions, all [concerns] should be resolved and not merely ‘noted.’ I will not allow it. [We will] set aside [the questioned COCs] and then resolve them later),” he said.
Sotto said they “do not expect serious objections unless the COCs will have incomplete records or does not match what was electronically transmitted.”
He said the start of the canvassing was a bit delayed after some of the ballot boxes containing the COCs transported from the Senate was caught in a traffic jam on their way to the House of Representatives.
Sotto said Marcos and Duterte-Carpio have been informed of the possible date of their proclamation as winners, adding it is ideal that they both be present during the event.
Zubiri said the canvassing is expected to be done Wednesday afternoon.
“The manifestation of the counsels for candidate VP Leni Robredo as well as Mayor Isko Moreno that they will no longer object to the results of the elections would definitely hasten our proceedings,” he said.
Rodriguez said Marcos would attend the proclamation in Congress, which he said could possibly happen between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today.
Mayor Christina Frasco, spokesman of Duterte-Carpio, said the presidential daughter will try her best to attend the proclamation despite prior commitments in Antique and Iloilo during the same day.
“Presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte received information from the legal counsel of Lakas CMD (Christians Muslim Democrats) of a possible date for the proclamation. She had earlier set a visit to the wake of a supporter in Antique who was depressed and bullied because of his political preferences and eventually committed suicide. Inday Sara also has meetings in Antique and Iloilo. She will endeavor to attend the proclamation and exert her best efforts to make it on time to Manila,” she said.
Elections Commissioner George Garcia expressed confidence that Congress will be able to meet its target to proclaim the winners in the presidential and vice presidential race by Thursday.
“I firmly believe that the joint session of Congress will be able to quickly complete the canvassing of 173 Certificates of Canvass (COCs),” said Garcia, pointing out that unlike the Comelec, Congress no longer has to wait for the COCs to be transmitted.
“They don’t need to wait much anymore. Unlike with us, where we had to wait for the manually prepared COCs from overseas voting, they won’t need to. Currently, they already have 172 COCs for president and vice president,” he said.
BACK TO REGULAR WORK
Once the proclamation is over, Sotto said Congress will convene into the Commission on Appointments on June 1 to discuss the confirmation of officials of the Commission on Elections recently appointed by President Duterte, and the confirmation of 50 Armed Forces officials.
Drilon said he will attend the CA to question the appointment of Aimee Torrefranca-Neri, who was accused by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio of accepting P10 million to “fix” the robbery case of his client Herbert Colanggo but returned only P7 million after his client was convicted in 2018.
Drilon has earlier called for Torrefranca-Neri’s resignation.
“Yes, I have concerns. I will attend the session on June 1 and let’s see what will happen,” Drilon said.
Torrefranca-Neri has denied the accusation. — With Raymond Africa, Jocelyn Montemayor and Gerard Naval
