MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In anticipation of the release by the Supreme Court of the Philippines — acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) — of its ruling on the 2016 Vice Presidential electoral protest, President Rodrigo Duterte has declared October 8 a special non-working holiday.

October 8 is when PET is expected to announce its decision on the recount of pilot precints  in connection with former Senator Bongbong Marcos’ protest against Leni Robredo’s proclamation as the elected Vice President in the 2016 polls.

In a statement by Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, he said Duterte wanted to give Filipinos the time to celebrate or mourn their candidate’s win or loss.

Panelo also said that the declaration is proof that that democracy and freedom of speech and assembly are alive and well in the Philippines, contrary to what Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and the Yellow Army have been claiming. Not to mention some U.S. Senators who approved a bill amendment barring Philippine officials who had a hand in incarcerating Senator Leila De Lima from entering the United States.