SC decision affirms Bongbong allegations vs. Leni baseless —Kiko

The Supreme Court decision junking the poll protest of former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr against Vice President Leni Robredo affirmed that no cheating occurred in the 2016 vice presidential race, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said Tuesday.

In a statement welcoming the decision, Pangilinan said it could've been reached sooner since "the allegations of cheating in the process [were] baseless."

"We welcome the ruling although how we wish this had been resolved much sooner because it affirms what we have been saying from Day 1 which is that the allegations of cheating in the process was baseless," said Pangilinan.

Pangilinan is the president of Liberal Party, of which Robredo sits as chairperson.

At the House of Representatives, several lawmakers also welcomed the unanimous decision of the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

Ako Bicol party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. said the unanimity of the decision speaks volumes and should put to rest any doubts as regards Robredo's victory in the 2016 polls.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate echoed Garbin's remarks, adding that the decision will also let Robredo concentrate more on her duties and "not be pestered by pretenders to the vice presidency."

"As it is, the PET decision, clearly, is also a big legal slap on the Solicitor General, who even intervened in the case in support of Marcos, who is clearly a private party," Zarate said.

"This development is significant especially now that the Filipino people are pushing back yet against tyranny," he said.

Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago, on the other hand, said PET's decision would finally put the issue to rest.

Elago vowed that the party-list would continue to support Robredo as they continue to fight for the rights of the youth, especially in this time of pandemic.

"We commend the OVP for its ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts in calamity-hit areas as well as its firm stand against extrajudicial killings and for the protection and promotion of human rights," she said.

SC spokesperson Brian Hosaka said of the 15 justices present during the day's en banc session, seven magistrates “fully concurred” in the dismissal while the rest “concurred” in the result.

Marcos, son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes in the May 2016 elections. He had insisted that the election results were marred by fraud. —with Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News