MAS MARUNONG KA PA SA PET, MACALINTAL!

Wow, mga kababayan, gusto pang palabasin ngayon ng abugado ni Leni Rpbredo na si Romy Macalintal na MAS MARUNONG PA SIYA SA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL (PET).

In a story in abs-cbnnews.com, Macalintal was quoted as saying that "It should be Comelec that decides on the threshold for shading, and not PET, because it is Comelec than oversaw the conduct of the elections" * http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/17/18/lawyer-denies-vp-robredo-lost-5000-votes-over-shading-limit). He was reacting to reports that some 5,000 votes have been deducted from Leni in the ongoing recount of votes covered by Bongbong Marcos’s protest. One of the reasons was due to non-compliance to the 50 percent ballot shading threshold set by the PET.  

For those who missed it: As early as five days ago, the 50 percent PET threshold was ALREADY REPORTED in national media. Here are excerpts from the story which I had written about in an earlier blog: (http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/649852/pet-denies-robredo-bid-for-25-oval-shade-threshold-in-recount/story/)

"Protestee's (Leni) claim that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as purportedly confirmed by the Random Manual Audit Guidelines and Report applies the 25% threshold percentage in determining a valid vote is INACCURATE (emphasis mine)."The Court is not aware of any Comelec Resolution that states the applicability of a 25% threshold; and the Tribunal cannot treat the Random Manual Audit Guidelines and Report as proof of the threshold used by the Comelec.” The PET cited Comelec Resolution No. 8804, as amended by Comelec Resolution No. 9164, which it said does not mention the 25 percent threshold sought by Robredo.

"Prior to the amendment in Resolution No. 9164, Rule 15, Section 6 of Resolution No. 8804 states that any shading less than 50% shall not be considered a valid vote,"  which is consistent with PET rules. While the 2010 PET rules specify the 50-percent threshold, the 2018 Revisor's Guide "did not impose a new threshold."

The PET also said Leni’s claim of a "systematic reduction" of her votes with the 50 percent threshold set by the PET was  "without basis and shows a “MISUNDERSTANDING (emphasis mine) of the revision process." Ballots under question, under the rules, will be marked for examination by the PET.

So take your pick, boys and girls: Macalintal was MISINFORMED OR IGNORANT of the PET threshold ruling, Macalintal was aware of the ruling but DELIBERATELY HID IT in his reaction to DECEIVE AND MISLEAD the public or he read the PET ruling but DID NOT UNDERSTAND IT

And I had thought all along that this guy was as good as others had said he was. 30