MANILA – Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos made his first installment payment required from him by Supreme Court as his poll protest fee against Vice President Leni Robredo.

The SC, seating as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) required Marcos of pay Php66 million as protest fee with half required to be paid by April 17. The balance must be paid on or before July 14. The amount will be used by the PET to transport the election paraphernalia to the electoral tribunal for their review, the www.sunstar.com.ph reported.

Marcos said that he was able to raise the amount through his supporters and friends.

“Sila and kumuha ng suporta at tulong para mabuo and Php36.02 million,” Marcos claimed.

He hopes that with the payment of the first installment, the justices will be compelled to begin the preliminary conference on his petition.

Marcos filed an electoral protest with the PET contesting the win of Robredo in last year’s polls by a mere 200,000 votes. He petitioned the PET to nullify the results of the vice presidential election and open contested election returns.

Marcos is contesting votes cast in favor of Robredo in Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Maguindanao.

The SC likewise ordered Robredo to pay PhP15,439,000 since was also contesting vote results in 8,042 clustered precincts. </s> 'We will only pay after Mr Marcos [has] already finished the revision and the recount of the ballot,' says the Vice President's lawyer Romulo Macalintal

MANILA, Philippines – After former Senator Ferdinand Marcos settled the first half of the recount fee required by the Supreme Court (SC), will Vice President Leni Robredo pay her dues?

Robredo's election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said they are willing to pay only after the recount of ballots contested by Marcos is completed.

"We are willing to pay. We know the rules. We will only pay after Mr Marcos [has] already finished the revision and the recount of the ballot. In other words, kapag tapos na siya sa kanyang mga protesta (if he is already done with his protest)," Macalintal said in an interview on ANC's Headstart on Tuesday, April 18.

He explained: "Because the payment that we are supposed to pay is for our counter-protest. So the counter-protest will only start after the protest, and that is under rule 65 of [the] Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET)."

The SC, acting as the PET, earlier ordered Marcos and Robredo to pay a service fee for the precincts they are contesting. Marcos, who is contesting over 39,000 clustered precincts, was ordered to pay P66 million. Robredo was required to pay P15 million for the 8,042 clustered precincts she is questioning.

Both were required to settle this week the first installment of P36 million and P8 million, respectively.

Marcos, whose lawyer initially said they would file a motion for reconsideration regarding the hefty amount, paid the P36 million on Monday. He said his friends and supporters were able to raise the amount. (LOOK: Marcos' donors for the P36-million recount fee)

Robredo, meanwhile, filed a manifestation and a motion on April 12. Her lawyers argued that Marcos should first prove that his complaint has basis.

This can be done by the initial recount of ballots in 3 provinces that he will identify. Macalintal said this is also under the PET rules.

The Robredo camp also asked the PET to impose a P185-million fee on Marcos because he questioned the entire election system when he sought the preservation of the election paraphernalia of all 92,509 clustered precincts, which consist of 369,138 established precincts.

Robredo's lawyers again denied the accusation of the Marcos camp that they are delaying the proceedings.

"How could you say we are delaying? If you say that we are delaying, you are actually accusing the PET of not knowing what to do that we can actually delay the proceeding. That is an insult against the competence and the integrity of the PET. Because if the PET sees that we are delaying it, then we could be cited in contempt of court," said Macalintal. – Rappler.com </s> (3rd UPDATE) The defeated vice presidential candidate says friends and supporters pulled in resources to raise the P36 million

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr paid the first installment of the recount fee that the Supreme Court (SC) ordered him to pay so his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo would proceed.

Marcos went to the SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), on Monday, April 17 – the deadline for payment of the first tranche of P36 million.

The defeated vice presidential candidate said friends and supporters pulled in resources to raise the P36 million.

The second installment of P30 million should be paid on or before July 14.

"Masyado nang matagal ang isang taon. Mag-iisang taon na mula nung nakaraang halalan, hanggang ngayon hindi pa alam ng taong bayan kung sino ba talaga ang nanalo bilang bise presidente," said Marcos in a brief interview.

"I hope this compliance we have done [with] the SC order will go a long way of getting the process started," he added.

In a resolution dated March 21, the SC had ordered Marcos and Robredo to pay a combined P81 million for the recount of the contested ballots in the 2016 vice presidential race.

Robredo was ordered to pay P8 million for the first tranche and P7.43 million for the second.

Marcos filed an election protest against Robredo in June 2016, contesting 39,221 clustered precincts which are composed of 132,446 established precincts. Robredo, meanwhile, filed a counter-protest, questioning 8,042 clustered precincts which are composed of 31,278 established precincts.

After the SC ordered both camps to pay the recount fees, Marcos' camp argued that the computation of the fee must be based on the clustered precincts being contested and not the established precincts.

The lawyers of the defeated vice presidential candidate also said that they are only seeking a recount of the ballots in 36,465 out of the 39,221 clustered precincts.

But Marcos' lawyer and spokesperson Vic Rodriguez clarified that they were unable to file a motion for reconsideration last Wednesday, April 12, since the SC was on half-day duty because of Holy Week.

Filing a motion for reconsideration now, however, would appear contradictory to their move on Monday, said Marcos' lead counsel George Garcia.

They will, however, file a motion to dismiss Robredo's counter-protest against Marcos on the basis that the Vice President's camp failed to pay the amount required of them.

Robredo had filed a manifestation last Wednesday, saying Marcos should be first to pay the fee and initiate the opening of ballots from 3 chosen provinces to prove that his protest has sufficient basis.

The Vice President's lawyers also said Marcos should pay P185 million instead of P66 million because his first pleading before the PET sought the protection of election paraphernalia in all 92,509 clustered precincts (369,138 established precincts) used during the May 2016 elections.

But Garcia said on Monday that what the Robredo camp filed was a manifestation questioning the amount due for Marcos and not their own fee, so they still have to pay on the due date. – Rappler.com </s> Losing vice presidential candidate and former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday paid P36 million to the Supreme Court as first installment of the required fee for the retrieval of election materials for his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

In an ambush interview with reporters, Marcos said he was hoping that his compliance to the high court’s order would “go a long way to get the process started.”

“Galing ako sa Office of the Clerk of Court at ako ay nag-comply sa order na bayaran ang first tranche para sa protest ko. Kahit na merong kaming mga disagreement sa pagkalkula dahil pinagbabayad kami kahit na Semana Santa,” Marcos said.

The SC, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, ordered Marcos to pay a total of P66.2 million for the precincts he was contesting. In his protest, the late dictator’s son and namesake urged the court to order the immediate collection, retrieval, transport, and delivery of all ballot boxes in 39,221 clustered precincts or equivalent to 132,446 established precincts.

Robredo, meanwhile, was required to pay P15,639,000. In her counter-protest, the duly elected Vice President questioned 8,042 clustered precincts or 31,278 established precincts.

Both camps were ordered to pay in two tranches. The first installment was supposed to be received last April 14, Good Friday, but the date fell on a national holiday. The deadline for the second installment is on July 14. JE/rga </s> The failure of Vice President Leni Robredo to pay P8 million in cash deposit should prompt the outright dismissal of her counterprotest, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday told the Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

In a six-page omnibus motion, the son and namesake of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos also urged the PET to set the preliminary conference of his election protest against Robredo, who edged him out in the vice presidential race in the May 2016 polls by over 200,000 votes.

Robredo, represented by veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, had asked the high court to allow her to settle the first tranche of the required cash bond for her own protest at a later time pending the determination of the merits of Marcos’ protest.

The election tribunal has directed Marcos to pay P66 million for the precincts covered by his protest while Robredo was required to post a P15 million cash bond for her counterprotest.

They were both ordered to settle the first installment of the cash deposit on April 14. Marcos made a payment of P36 million as first installment of his protest fee.

The former senator, President Duterte’s staunch ally, said the vice president’s action was only intended to further delay the resolution of his accusation that she had cheated him.

“In view of the failure on the part of (Robredo) to pay the first tranche of the cash deposit for her counterprotest within the deadline set by this honorable tribunal, protestant Marcos is now constrained to move for the immediate dismissal of the counterprotest,” Marcos said in his petition.

He said the dismissal of Robredo’s counterprotest was “warranted” as the PET had previously thrown out two election cases because of the failure of the petitioners to settle the required cash deposits on time.

“There being no issue as to the cash deposit required to be paid by (Robredo), there is clearly no basis for (her) to ask this honorable tribunal to hold in abeyance the payment of the cash deposit for her counterprotest,” said Marcos. </s> The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo also says former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr should be the first to pay the recount fee

MANILA, Philippines – Veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said Monday, April 17, that former senator Ferdinand Marcos should pay P185 million, not just P66 million, in order for his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo to proceed.

Macalintal, Robredo's lawyer, explained that Marcos' protest covers the entire election system since he questioned the integrity and reliability of the vote-counting machines (VCMs) and storage devices in 92,509 clustered precincts, which consist of 369,138 established precincts.

Robredo's legal team stressed that in Marcos' previous motion granted by the Supreme Court (SC), he asked for the protection of all VCMs, consolidating canvass system units, and SD cards in all precincts.

"That's his total obligation in his protest. While he said that he is contesting 36,000 precincts, what he's actually contesting is the entire clustered precincts, 92,000, that functioned during the 2016 election," said Macalintal as he gave reporters a summary of their camp's manifestation filed last April 12.

The manifestation was submitted before the SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), after it ordered Marcos and Robredo to pay P66 million and P15 million, respectively, as fee for the recount of the ballots being contested.

Both camps were given until Monday to settle the first tranche of the payment and until July 14 to pay the balance.

In his election case against Robredo, Marcos is questioning over 39,221 clustered precincts, composed of 132,446 established precincts. While he is only seeking a recount for 36,465 clustered precincts, the PET ordered him to pay for the established precincts he is questioning.

In Robredo's counter-protest, meanwhile, she is contesting 8,042 clustered precincts, consisting of 31,278 established precincts.

Marcos' lawyer Vic Rodriguez said they filed a motion for reconsideration last week, asking the court to compute for the clustered precincts being contested and not the established precincts.

Marcos' motion for reconsideration and Robredo's manifestation led to the suspension of the Monday deadline as the PET has yet to settle the issues raised.

Robredo's lawyers also argued that Marcos' protest caused the delay in the return of the VCMs leased by service provider Smartmatic to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). This incurred a P2.1-billion fee for the Comelec for failure to return on time.

Robredo's camp has asked the SC to instruct the Comelec to provide an itemized list of expenses stemming from the delay in the return of the VCMs.

Also included in Robredo's manifestation is her lawyers' argument that the Vice President should only pay for the required amount after Marcos has proven that there is sufficient basis in his protest by initiating the recount of the first batch of ballots.

Macalintal said that under the PET rules, the "initial reception of evidence" will proceed when the Marcos camp identifies 3 provinces where they could recover reports of poll fraud.

"Mr Marcos should first prove that they will be able to recover votes. He should first deposit the money and have the ballots opened for us to see that his protest has basis. Because why would we deposit P15 million but in the end, nothing will happen?" he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The lawyer also highlighted that the payment of the PET fee, at P500 per precinct, is just the tip of the iceberg. Those involved in the case should also pay the revisors at least P1,500 each. Each revising team is composed of 3 revisors – a representative of the PET, and representatives from two contending camps.

Macalintal said this will cost both Marcos and Robredo another P775 million each for the whole duration of the protest.

Marcos, who lost the vice presidential race to Robredo by 263,473 votes, accused Robredo and the Liberal Party of orchestrating massive fraud in the May 2016 elections. His protest was filed in June last year. – Rappler.com </s> SETTLED. Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr arrives at the Supreme Court on April 17, 2017, to post a cash deposit of P36 million as initial payment for his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo. Photo by Inoue Jaena/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr asked the Supreme Court (SC) to junk the counter-protest of Vice President Leni Robredo, citing her failure to pay a fee in connection with his electoral protest.

In an omnibus motion before the High Court on Thursday, April 20, the Marcos camp said Robredo's case should be dismissed since Robredo had failed to settle the first installment of the fee required by the SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

It cited Rule 34 of the 2010 PET rules, which states, "If a party fails to make the cash deposits or additional deposits herein required within the prescribed time limit, the Tribunal may dismiss the protest or counter-protest, or take such action as it may deem equitable under the circumstances."

The PET earlier ordered Marcos and Robredo to settle a fee of P66 million and P15 million, respectively, for the recount of ballots for the electoral protest. The sum was based on the number of precincts contested by both parties in their protests.

Marcos was supposed to pay an initial fee of P36 million, while Robredo was to pay P8 million, on Monday, April 17.

Marcos personally went to the SC on Monday to make the payment. Robredo, for her part, filed a manifestation on April 12, arguing that she should pay the amount only after Marcos' payment and after an initial batch of ballots has been opened to prove the sufficiency of the protest.

Marcos' lawyers called the other camp's move a "dilatory" tactic.

"There being no issue as to the cash deposit required to be paid by the protestee/counter-protestant, there is clearly no basis for Robredo to ask this Honorable Tribunal to hold in abeyance the payment of the cash deposit for her counter-protest," the motion read.

Marcos' spokesperson, Vic Rodriguez, said the protest procedure will be faster if the counter-protest is dismissed.

"The only thing left for the Tribunal to do is to hear and decide on the case to be presented by Marcos and no one else. Furthermore, it will exclude them from filing the usual dilatory motions they have been doing," said Rodriguez.

Marcos' camp also urged the PET to proceed with the preliminary conference.

The preliminary conference is where the issues of a case are simplified and the number of witnesses are set, among other agreements. The proceedings of the case are set in motion when the court issues a preliminary conference order.

On January 26, Marcos asked the PET to set the preliminary conference for his protest that was filed 9 months ago.

Only after a preliminary conference can the initial opening of ballots from 3 identified provinces be conducted, said Rodriguez.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Robredo's election lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, stressed that they will wait for the PET's resolution on the issues they had raised in their motion.

"We will wait for the PET to resolve the matter. If the PET decides we should pay now, we will make the necessary payment," said Macalintal. – Rappler.com </s> The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo has asked the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), to allow her to pay the cash deposit for her counterprotest at a later time pending determination of the merits of the poll protest filed by losing candidate former Sen. Bongbong Marcos.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, Robredo’s counsel, said the usual procedure was for the protestant (Marcos) to pay the cash deposit first for the opening of the ballots.

“Mr. Marcos would have to demonstrate that he could recover ballots sufficient to overcome the vote lead of Vice President Robredo,” Macalintal said in a press briefing on Monday.

The PET has ordered Marcos to pay P66 million for the precincts covered by his protest while Robredo was ordered to pay P15 million for her counter protest.

The cash deposits can be made in two tranches with the first installment due on April 14.

“Under the rules, the PET will direct Marcos to choose three provinces for the initial reception of evidence. And if there is basis for the protest, then that’s the time we will talk about the deposits,” Macalintal said.

In their manifestation, Macalintal said Marcos should even pay P185 million since the first cause of action of his protest questioned the integrity of the vote counting machines in all 92,509 clustered precincts equivalent to 369,138 established precincts.

Meanwhile, Marcos on Monday went to the Supreme Court to personally witness the payment of P36 million in filing fee for his election protest against Robredo.

The son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos claimed the money did not come from his own pocket, but was raised by 40 of his friends and supporters as he could not immediately come up with the amount set by the high court.

Among those who donated for his filing fee were a certain Alfredo Roa and Ruby Diaz Roa, who, as Marcos admitted, could be related to President Duterte.

“My friends and others who are close to me initiated it. They were the ones who went around to get help, support and collected the money for us to come up with P36 million,” Marcos told reporters.—ERIKA SAULER AND MARLON RAMOS </s> Losing vice presidential candidate and former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday paid P36 million to the Supreme Court as first installment of the required fee for the retrieval of election materials for his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

In an ambush interview with reporters, Marcos said he was hoping that his compliance to the high court’s order would “go a long way to get the process started.”

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“Galing ako sa Office of the Clerk of Court at ako ay nag-comply sa order na bayaran ang first tranche para sa protest ko. Kahit na merong kaming mga disagreement sa pagkalkula dahil pinagbabayad kami kahit na Semana Santa,” Marcos said.

“Masyado nang matagal ang isang taon. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa alam ng taong bayan kung sino talaga ang nanalo bilang Bise Presidente, kaya palagay ko ang isang taon ay masyado nang mahaba. Sana ang ating magigiting na justices ay simulant na ang process sa paghusga kung sino ba talaga ang nanalo sa nakaraang halalan,” he added.

The SC, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, ordered Marcos to pay a total of P66.2 million for the precincts he was contesting. In his protest, the late dictator’s son and namesake urged the court to order the immediate collection, retrieval, transport, and delivery of all ballot boxes in 39,221 clustered precincts or equivalent to 132,446 established precincts.

Robredo, meanwhile, was required to pay P15,639,000. In her counter-protest, the duly elected Vice President questioned 8,042 clustered precincts or 31,278 established precincts.

Both camps were ordered to pay in two tranches. The first installment was supposed to be received last April 14, Good Friday, but the date fell on a national holiday. The deadline for the second installment is on July 14. JE/rga

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Bongbong Marcos pays ₱36 million, half of the required amount to hold a recount against Philippine vice president Leni Robredo.