Solgen’s motion calling for Leonen’s inhibition in Marcos poll protest in “interest” of Filipinos – Palace

November 10, 2020

Malacanang said on Tuesday that it is in the "interest" of the Filipinos to know who really won in the vice presidential elections four years ago.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement to justify Solicitor General Jose Calida's call for Associate Justice Marvic Leonen to inhibit in the election protest of administration ally defeated vice presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos now pending before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

The PET, composed of 11 members, with the Chief Justice acting as the chairman and 10 other justices of the Supreme Court as members, is tasked to hear and decide all presidential and vice presidential election contests.

"Well, under the law organizing the Office of the Solicitor General, they are actually counsels for the people and I supposed the motion had to be filed because it is the interest of our people to know who really won in the election for vice president," Roque said in a televised press briefing.

Asked if Calida sought for Duterte's approval to intervene in Marcos' election protest against Robredo, he said, "He (Duterte) does not micromanage."

"He's allowing his Cabinet (members) to give attention and act on things under their respective agencies," he added.

Calida, who backed Marcos' vice presidential bid, has filed a motion for inhibition against Leonen, an appointee of former President Benigno Aquino III, hours after Marcos did the same.

He anchored his petition against Leonen on the dissenting opinion that the latter made on the High Court's decision that allowed late dictator Ferdinand Marcos' burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City months after Duterte assumed the presidency in 2016.

Roque said it would be up to the court if it would grant Calida's motion.

"Let's just say that the matter of inhibition is now left to not just Justice Leonen but to the court itself. I will not comment on that," he said. Celerina Monte/DMS