The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has denied the petition of Danilo Lihaylihay seeking to declare presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., a nuisance candidate.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said on Saturday, Dec. 18 that in the decision promulgated on Dec.16, 2021, the second division ruled that Marcos’ candidacy did not fall under any of the three broad categories of nuisance candidates.
This includes "one who has a filed a candidacy to throw the election process in mockery of disrepute, or to cause confusion among voters by the similarity of names, or that there are acts or circumstances which clearly demonstrate the lack of a bona fide intention to run for office."
"Petitioner's sweeping statements and unfounded claims utterly failed to establish that Respondent's candidacy put the election process in mockery or dispute," the decision stated.
It further mentioned that there was no act or circumstance which clearly demonstrated that Marcos had no bona fide intention to run for the office to which the COC was filed, thus preventing a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate.
"On the contrary, Respondent has sufficiently established that he actually has a bona fide intention to run for President of the country," it added.
It also cited Marcos' previous positions held including Vice Governor, Governor, Representative of the Province Ilocos Norte and Senator as well as a Vice Presidential candidate in 2016 and that he is backed by a registered political party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
The petition filed by Lihaylihay was signed by Comelec Second Division Presiding Commissioner Socorro Inting and Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr.