The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division will handle the disqualification case filed by the Pudno Nga Ilokano against presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

"I think we have Salandanan raffled to Second Division," Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said in a virtual press briefing on Monday, Dec. 20.

In their petition, petitioners said respondent is disqualified to run for or to hold any elective position, much less for the position of Philippine president, for having been found guilty by final judgment of crimes involving "moral turpitude" pursuant to Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code; for having been found guilty, by final judgment, of a crime that carries the penalty of more than 18 months also pursuant to Sec. 12 of the OEC; for having been actually sentenced to prison correccional and is thereby effectively deprived of his "right ot suffrage" pursuant to Article 43 of the revised penal code in relation to Sec. 2 Article VII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, and also in view of his conviction for violation of Sec. 45 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1977 which in itself already carries the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office pursuant to Sec. 286 of the NIRC of 1977.

The petitioners are Margarita Salonga Salandanan, Crisanto Palabay, Mario Ben, Danilo Consumido, Gil Derilo, Raoul Tividad, Nida Gatchalian and Nomer Kuan who are mostly from Ilocos.

The three other disqualification cases filed against Marcos Jr. are being handled by the Comelec First Division.

Meanwhile, petitioners seeking to cancel the certificate of candidacy of Marcos Jr. has expressed hope that the Comelec will grant their petition.

"Granting the petition by denying due course or cancelling the certificate of candidacy for president filed by Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in connection with the 2022 National Elections," the petitioners led by Fr Christian Buenafe said in their Memorandum.

"As a consequence of the above, also excluding the name of respondent Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. from the list of official candidates for president in the official ballot for the May 2022 National Elections," it further read.

Buenafe et. al. also asked the Commission to rule on the matter swiftly in order to prevent any uncertainties and confusion.

They said having a "provisional inclusion" of Marcos, Jr.'s, in the official ballots may cause "undue and unwanted conditioning" of the people.

"Petitioners submit, with due respect, that this Honorable Commission is fully aware of the urgency of the issues raised in these proceedings in light of the need for the Honorable Commission to determine the names of official candidates to be included in the official ballots to be used in the 2022 elections," they said.

"While it is more practicable to include his name provisionally, it is far more deleterious, in the long run, to do so as any final decision that may confirm what is already patent, i.e., that the COC should be cancelled, may be rendered moot by his inclusion in the official ballot," added the petitioners.

The Comelec on Monday confirmed that the camp of Marcos also submitted their memorandum but did not provide a copy.