PET Case No. 003, Legarda v. De Castro, January 18, 2008

On January 18, 2008, in a 21-page resolution, penned by Senior Justice Leonardo Quisumbing, the Supreme Court of the Philippines, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), dismissed Sen. Loren Legarda’s electoral protest against Noli de Castro. 3 reasons supported the judgment: first, the PET approved the recommendation of Hearing Commissioner and former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair retired SC Justice Bernardo P. Pardo that “the pilot-tested revision of ballots or re-tabulation of the certificates of canvass would not affect the winning margin of the protestee in the final canvass of the returns.

In addition to the ground of abandonment or withdrawal by reason of Protestant’s candidacy for, election and assumption of the office Senator of the Philippines;” second, Legarda’s failure to pay the P 3.9 million ($ 1 = P 40) revision of ballots (in 124,404 precincts) fee despite court extension under Rule 33 of the PET; and third, jurisprudence of Defensor Santiago v. Ramos, teaches that Legarda "effectively abandoned or withdrawn her protest when she ran in the Senate, which term coincides with the term of the Vice-Presidency 2004-2010."

Meanwhile, Noli De Castro on television stated: "This is the triumph of truth. The truth that I won fair and square. I thank the Supreme Court for echoing the true voice of the people. From the very beginning I was confident that I received the overwhelming mandate of our people as Vice President." Legarda stated that she will file a motion for reconsideration in due course.

Links

• Abs-Cbn Interactive, PET junks Loren’s VP electoral protest
• supremecourt.gov.ph/news, PET Junks Legarda’s Poll Protest against VP De Castro

See also

1. Official Congressional canvass - 2004
2. Election scandal - 2004
3. PET Case No. 003, Legarda v. De Castro, January 18, 2008 (This post)
4. COMELEC's move for an automated elections - 2004
5. The LDP split - 2004
6. Eddie Gil's candidacy - 2004
7. Death of Lawyer Maria Jeanette Tecson
8. Fernando Poe, Jr.’s candidacy - 2004
9. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s candidacy - 2004
10. Philippine General Election - 2004

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