PET orders Marcos, Robredo to explain gag order violations

MANILA- The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has ordered the camps of Vice President Leni Robredo and former Senator Bongbong Marcos to explain why they have disclosed "sensitive" information about the ongoing vote recount.

Marcos and Robredo were ordered to explain within 10 days from receipt of notice of the show cause order why they should not be held in contempt for violating the gag order on the vote recount.

The PET explained that it had released two resolutions dated February 13, 2018, and March 20, 2018, which instruct both parties to refrain from discussing the vote recount to the public.

"Despite these stern directives of the Tribunal, several news reports have shown that the parties, their counsels and/or representatives, have nonetheless continued to disclose sensitive information regarding the revision process to the public, in clear violation of the aforementioned resolutions," it said.

SC, sitting as PET, issues show cause order for VP Leni Robredo, ex-Sen. Bongbong Marcos to explain why they shouldn’t be held in contempt for violating gag order on manual recount of votes. pic.twitter.com/VSbsbjd3cD

— Ina Reformina (@InaReformina) April 12, 2018

SC, sitting as PET, says Robredo and Marcos camps have disclosed sensitive information regarding ongoing manual recount of votes, thus the Show Cause Order. Read excerpts of resolution: pic.twitter.com/PQGrRyPgOv

— Ina Reformina (@InaReformina) April 12, 2018

The recount of votes for the election protest of Marcos against Robredo began last April 2.

• Leni vs Bongbong: VP vote recount starts

Marcos claims "massive cheating" caused his loss to Robredo in the 2016 vice-presidential race by some 260,000 votes.

The ballots, which were counted by machine, are being tallied again manually by the PET.

Marcos, on the first day of the vote recount, told reporters that some of the ballots were wet and that there were allegedly missing audit logs.

• Marcos: Some ballots wet, audit logs missing in Robredo stronghold

Both camps have given statements to the media on the matter in the days that followed.

• Macalintal: Bongbong Marcos' allegations are 'fake news'
• Missing or misinformed? Robredo, Marcos lawyers disagree on audit logs

-report from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News