A petition seeking the disqualification of presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in the May 2022 polls has been filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
Petitioners which include former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and other martial law victims and rights advocates cited Marcos' previous tax conviction in their plea.
"Respondent convicted candidate Marcos, Jr. was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Sections 45 and 50 of the National Internal Revenue Code ("NIRC"). Relevantly, Section 253(c) of the NIRC specifically provides that if the person convicted of a crime penalized by the NIRC is a public officer or employee, the maximum penalty for the offense shall be imposed and, in addition, he shall be dismissed from the public service and perpetually disqualified from holding any public office, to vote and to participate in any election," read the petition.
"Further, as can be indisputably gleaned from his certificate of candidacy for the position of President of our ravaged motherland, respondent convicted candidate Marcos, Jr. made false material representations in his certificate of candidacy, particularly in part 22 of the certificate of candidacy when he unqualifiedly stated that he has allegedly not been found liable for an offense which carries with it the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office, which has become final and executory," it further read The petitioners said this material misrepresentation is more than sufficient ground for the Honorable Commission to "cancel respondent convicted candidate Marcos, Jr.'s certificate of candidacy, or to deny due course to the same. Or, in the alternative, disqualify the respondent convicted candidate Marcos, Jr.'s from holding public office."
Earlier this month, several groups and personalities submitted a petition with the poll body seeking to cancel or deny the COC of presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. over supposed "false material representation" stemming from a 1995 tax case.
On Nov. 8, a petition-in-intervention was also filed before the Comelec seeking to supplement the earlier petition to cancel the COC of Marcos Jr.