The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., from the presidential race, citing his 1995 conviction for tax evasion.
On Nov. 2, Task Force Detainees of PH, KAPATID, Medical Action Group, FIND, PH Alliance of Human Rights Advocate, and Balay filed a petition seeking to cancel the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of Marcos.
In the 57-page petition filed by petitioners Fr. Christian Buenafe, Fides Lim, Ma. Edeliza Hernandez, Celia Lagman Sevilla, Ronal Vibal, and Josephine Lascano cited "multiple false material representation" in Marcos' COC.
"The Marcos family is really deceiving the people. Now even the Comelec is a victim of i. Aside from the record of Marcos Jr. who lied about his educational background, he has not paid tax and until now is the response to the petition is still deception," Amihan Secretary-General Cathy Estavillo said in a statement.
"They consider the petition nuisance that says nothing but the court decision and existing law. Marcos' statement itself is an admission that it doesn't recognize laws and they are not covered by them. It's admitting that they are living in impunity or are exempted from accountability in law, different from ordinary citizens," Estavillo underscored.
Amihan also urged Comelec officials to "stand by the pillars of democratic governance, rule of law and accountability."
"The Comelec should no longer be petty on this issue and think about the future of the next generations of the Filipino people if they allow the Marcos family to return to power. They should immediately disqualify Marcos Jr."
Based on the Omnibus Election Code, any person who is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude is disqualified to hold any office.
Supreme Court defined moral turpitude as "everything which is done contrary to justice, modesty, or good morals; an act of baseness, vileness or depravity in the private and social duties which a man owes his fellowmen, or to society in general."
Meanwhile, the camp of Marcos maintained that the former senator's eligibility to run for office is "valid."
Marcos' Spokesperson Victor Rodriguez also slammed the petition as a "predictable nuisance" and called it as nothing more than a mere "propaganda."