Caguioa stays in charge of Marcos poll protest

MANILA, Philippines — Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa will remain in charge of the resolution of the electoral protest of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo before the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

The PET rejected the request of Caguioa to re-raffle the case docketed as PET Case No. 005 to another member-in-charge.

In a statement issued yesterday, the PET denied reports suggesting that Caguioa would be replaced as member-in-charge of the case who will write the court’s draft decision.

The PET was referring to an internal memorandum of Caguioa to his colleagues and fellow justices seeking transfer of management to another magistrate prior.

While Caguioa wanted to be replaced as member-in-charge to put an end to allegations hurled against him over supposed delay in the resolution of the case, he would not inhibit in the case and continue to participate in the voting.

Apart from denying the request of Caguioa, the PET also issued a warning on the leakage of the magistrate’s internal memorandum.

While the PET rejected Caguioa’s plea, it has yet to act and decide on the urgent plea of Marcos earlier this month for his inhibition in his poll protest.

Marcos said Caguioa should recuse himself from further handling the case due to his association with Robredo and the Liberal Party.