According to the motion file by Sen. Bongbong Marcos, designating hearing commissioners will be advantageous to the PET because the hearing commissioners will facilitate the hearing a more orderly, more simple and in an expeditious manner.
Last year, Marcos filed an election protest against Leni Robredo on June 29, 2017 claiming that the results in 27 cities and provinces, and the votes counted in Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur were manipulated and contested the occurrence of substantial poll fraud in the said provinces.
Earlier this year, the Tribunal junked Leni Robredo’s attempt for the dismissal of Marcos’ election protest that the PET has no jurisdiction over the case and ruled out in a resolution that Marcos’ protest sufficient in form and substance.
Last April 25, 2017, BBM received a Resolution granting Sen. Marcos’ motion for immediate setting of the preliminary conference and the said proceeding was scheduled on June 21, 2017 at 2:00 in the afternoon.
The motion further expounded that there is a need for three (3) hearing commissioners to assist the Tribunal throughout the preliminary conferences and the trial of the said protest. The three hearing commissioners will be the one inspect the evidences on alleged election fraud and will cross examine the witnesses. In addition to this, each commissioner will be assigned to a specific cause of action for conducting the preliminary conference and trial proper so as not to bring a confused and mixed-up report.
Marcos’s camp stressed out that this election protest is filled with public interest so there is a need for immediate action from the PET to once and for all clear out the election controversy and announce who really is the rightful candidate for the contested position.
Source/s: Rappler, ABS-CBN News, Bongbong Marcos
