MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Subject to fact-checking by Rappler and Vera Files – In boxing, the winner of a match is decided by the judges’ unanimous decision, majority decision, or in some cases, by a technical knockout.

Today, the Philippines’ Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) voted unanimously in favor of Bongbong Marcos’ electoral protest.

While the ballot recount is still ongoing, PET decided to declare the process null and void by virtue of a technicality.

The technicality arose from yesterday’s revelation that a PET Revisor from the Vice President’s camp broke bread (and broke the rules) with members of the PET Revisors.  It happened during an outing in Pansol, Laguna. The group was literally in hot water. (Pansol is known for its hot springs.)

In its decision, PET said that the Robredo camp all but tainted the judicial process by creating an impression that the High Court’s personnel can be corrupted by politicians. It declared Robredo as a ‘persona non grata’ not worthy of the position as second highest official in the land.’

The Adobo Chronicles spoke with sources at the Supreme Court and they all said that the Robredo camp erred in joining the PET Revisors’ outing.

”The event was bound to be caught by the public’s eye,” the sources said. “The Revisors could have chosen a more private venue for the bonding, like SOGO Hotel.”