Their concern was raised on Tuesday following the previous notice of the Commission on Election (Comelec) last month that the department might need to pay P2.08 billion under its automated election contracts.
In their nine-paged manifestation with omnibus motion for clarification, the camp of the Vice President has already informed the tribunal that a total of P2,078,304,255.76 may be incurred on account of the election protest.
"If only to avoid confusion on who will be liable for these amounts, we are constrained to seek a clarification," Robredo's legal counsel Romulo Macalintal said.
The amount represents the non-turnover of 97,365 rented voting counting machines (VCMs) to poll technology provider Smartmatic last December.
"Protestee Robredo seeks clarification on who will be liable for the P2,078,304,255.76, representing the cost of the VCMs leased and used during the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections," as read on the manifestation.
They also plead to the SC to "[direct] the [Comelec] to clarify whether protestant Marcos on account of this Election Protest will be held liable for the P2,078,304,255.76 under the [Automated Election Systems (AES)] Contracts."
"Consequently, protestee [Ms.] Robredo should not be held liable for the P2,078,304,255.76 under the AES Contracts," the manifestation reads.
The contract states that all goods owned by the Comelec as of December 1, 2016 are considered sold in line with the provision on the option to purchase.
Robredo's camp also said tht due to Marcos seeking for technical examination, forensic investigation, verification and analysis of the equipment the Comelec could not turn over the machines.
"Should the Comelec physically turn over and Smartmatic accepts, then the intention of protestant Marcos to seek a technical examination and forensic analysis of the VCMs will be rendered for naught," the manifestation stated.
Moreover, lawyers of Robredo said that she should not be held liable for the P2.08 billion representing the cost of the VCMs used during the May 2016 elections and P5.61 million for the rent of the Sta. Rosa warehouse and other related expenses considering it is Marcos' protest that prevented their return.
"She is obviously in panic now that the case is moving. Instead of her usual thoughtless buck passing, why does she not she make her beloved Liberal Party, Comelec and partner Smartmatic accountable for the mess they did to our system?" he said.
The preliminary conference for Marcos' protest and Robredo's counter protest was moved to July 11 due to the issues regarding martial law proclamation being raised before the Supreme Court by the opposition petitioners.
Source: INQ, GMA
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