Robredo not worried on merits of Marcos poll protest but on legal expenses

In a news conference, Robredo claimed that she has 10 days to answer upon receipt of the resolution to reply. She considers the poll protest “baseless.” (Photo: Robredo’s official Twitter account)

MANILA – Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday said she is more worried on the possible expenses of legal fees as she claimed she is confident and convinced that she won in the last election fairly against his closest rival, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.

She said that his office have not yet received any copy of poll protest filed against him by Marcos before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

In a news conference, Robredo claimed that she has 10 days to answer upon receipt of the resolution to reply. She considers the poll protest “baseless.”

“We expect that in a matter of days mare-receive na namin ‘yong formal notice requiring us to submit an answer. Ano naman ito, normal course ng kahit na anong kaso, kahit sa regular courts ito talaga ‘yong ginagawa na pinapadalhan talaga ‘yong respondent ng kopya, and requiring them to answer, she said.

She said she was not worried about losing the case, saying that they knew from the start that the complaint was “baseless.”

“Ili-leave ko na lang sa abugado ‘yung pagsagot. Hindi naman kami nag-aalala sa pag-explain ng sarili kasi wala namang tinatago,” she pointed out.

According to Robredo, Atty. Romy Macalintal is still her lead counsel but the election protest is completely different to canvassing.

She was referring to the pro bono offered to her by Macalintal during the canvassing but election protest filed by Marcos is another matter.

“Ako, tingin ko, magiging mahal masyado. Kung may worry man, nandon na. Magkano ba aabutin ng legal fees? Saan ko ba kukunin? Hindi naman ‘yung puwedeng i-charge sa opisina. Wala namang personal na pambayad. Siguro ‘yun ‘yung kaba,” she told reporters.

The Vice President said she and Macalintal had yet to discuss their “terms of engagement” now that she was facing “a full-blown case.”

“Nung canvassing kasi, talagang para sa bayan, TY (thank-you) ‘yun. Siyempre ngayon, ibang usapan na,” she stressed.

Robredo said she understood the work needed for this case, even if they considered it without basis.

“I think si Atty. Macalintal, alam naman niya ‘yung limitasyon. Hindi ko pa siya nakakausap ngayon; ‘yung pag-represent niya talaga sa akin, mas extension ng dati,” she noted.

The Vice President also said she would rather focus on her work both as the second highest elected official and chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.