The Negros Oriental chapter of the National Movement For Free Elections (Namfrel) is currently preparing for the recount of votes related to the 2016 vice presidential race between Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr.

Negros Oriental is one of three pilot provinces selected for the recount, alongside Iloilo and Robredo’s home province of Camarines Sur. The results of the three recounts will help determine the result of the poll protest, which was launched by Marcos and found “sufficient in form and substance” by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) back in July 2016.

Namfrel volunteers are preparing ballots and other election paraphernalia for transport to Manila, however, according to local Namfrel head, Msgr. Julius Perpetuo S. Heruela, there is no official date set for the material’s transport.

In contrast, ballot retrieval from Camarines Sur is set to begin on Tuesday, January 23.

According to Robredo’s counsel, Atty. Romulo Macalintal, the official recount is scheduled to begin next month.

Earlier this month, Marcos called out an “obvious bias” from Supreme Court Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, who is overseeing the protest.

The former senator provided a list of actions showing as alleged bias, including setting a deadline for the P36 million protest fee during Holy Week, while Robredo was never provided a deadline to pay her fee; deferring a motion for a technical evaluation of the Election Day Computerized Voters’ List without explanation; and ordering the complainant to produce 8,000 witnesses within five days.

“This kind of injustice has no place in a court of law, especially in the Supreme Court,” Marcos remarked.

Caguioa was appointed to the high court by former President Benigno S. Aquino III, whom he earlier served as chief presidential legal counsel and acting justice secretary; along with being a classmate of the former president./PLL, WDJ