The camp of Presidential aspirant and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday, Nov. 3, called the petition to cancel his certificate of candidacy (COC) a 'predictable nuisance'.
"We shall address this predictable nuisance petition at the proper time and forum after we receive the official copy of the same," said lawyer Vic Rodriguez, the spokesperson of Marcos, in a press statement.
"Until then, we will refrain from commenting on their propaganda. Our camp does not engage in gutter politics. Our campaign is about nation building." "For Presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos, this election is about the future of the Filipino people," Rodriguez added.
A petition seeking to cancel the COC of Marcos was filed on Tuesday, Nov. 2, before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Among the petitioners were Fr. Christian Buenafe of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, Fides Lim of Kapatid, Ma Edeliza Hernandez of Medical Action Group, Celia Lagman Sevilla of Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance, Roland Vibal of Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, and Josephine Lascano of Balay Rehabilitation Center who claimed that Marcos’ COC includes multiple false material representations.
In a statement, the petitioners said Marcos falsified his COC when he claimed that he was eligible to be a candidate for President in next year's national elections.
The petitioners also alleged that Marcos is not qualified to run for any public office as he is a convicted criminal.
They added that the crimes for which Marcos was convicted by final judgement are crimes involving moral turpitude that excludes him from being a candidate for any government office under Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code.
The petition asserted that the crime is one involving moral turpitude since, among others, Marcos and his family refused and continues to refuse to pay to the Filipino people roughly P203.8 billion in estate taxes, inclusive of interests, surcharge, and other penalties.
The said petitioners represent the group of political detainees, human rights and medical organizations that opposed the Marcos administration. (Melvin Sarangay)