Office of the Vice President : Press Release

Refer to: Ms. Dale Zapata
83321148/8334507

As he affirms his faith in PET
VP NOLI: LOREN, LET THE SC DECIDE
18 September 2005

Vice President Noli "Kabayan" De Castro yesterday reiterated that he leaves the electoral protest lodged against him by former senator Loren Legarda to the wise judgment of the highest Court of the land.

Ako ang lehitimong halal na Pangalawang Pangulo ayon sa prosesong konstitusyunal, at tanging ang Korte Suprema lamang ang maaaring magtanggal ng aking kapangyarihan.

De Castro gave his respect and due recognition to the jurisdiction of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal in settling the matter relating to allegations made by Legarda and urged the latter to exhibit the same and also avoid making prejudgment of the case, so as not to create confusion and muddle the issue.

Ang Presidential Electoral Tribunal ang final arbiter ng anumang katanungan ukol sa halalan. Ang paglatag ng electoral protest ni Senadora Legarda ay nasa PET na. Galangin natin ang pagdinig at pagpapatuloy ng proseso ng hustisya.

But de Castro emphasized his belief that the people are the ones who put and voted for him to be the Vice President.

I assure everyone that I never lifted a finger to corrupt and frustrate the true sovereign will of the Filipino people in their choice for the vice presidency. Kung alam ko na ako ay nandaya o nagbalak na mandaya sa nakaraang eleksyon, hindi ko makokonsensiya na tumagal na kahit isang segundo man lamang sa aking kasalukuyang tungkulin. Umasa po ang lahat na patuloy kong pangangalagaan ang tiwala na ibinigay sa akin ng taumbayan.