MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has not yet taken any action despite finishing the recount of ballots concerned in the electoral protest of defeated vice presidential bet Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
The tribunal announced Tuesday that it concluded the recount and revision in the three pilot provinces — Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental — that Marcos had identified.
The recount on the three provinces, which involved 5,415 election precincts, started in April 2018.
According to the tribunal, member-in-charge Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa submitted a report on the revision of ballots last Monday.
Following this advisory, the PET reminded the camps of Marcos and Vice President Leni Robredo that they are still subject to the subjudice rule.
"Hence, they are strictly ordered to refrain from making any public statements to the media with regard to the case," the tribunal said.
Last year, both Marcos and Robredo were fined P50,000 each for violating the court's subjudice rule when they disclosed information to the public about the ongoing election recount.
Under the subjudice rule, both parties are not allowed to discuss information in their pending cases. — Patricia Lourdes Viray