10 individuals seek cancellation of Bongbong's COC; 'political propaganda,' says Marcos camp

At least 10 more individuals have sought the cancellation of former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s certificate of candidacy for president in the 2022 elections.

The petitioners, in filing their Petition-In-Intervention with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), cited Marcos' alleged false declaration that he is eligible to run even if he has prior conviction penalizing him with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The petitioners, represented by lawyer Howard Calleja, were referring to Marcos' 2001 conviction for failure to file his Income Tax Returns from 1982 to 1985. The son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. did not appeal these four counts of conviction before the Supreme Court.

The petitioners cited Marcos' COC where he checked the box that says he was not convicted of any offense carrying a penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office, when in fact he, a public official at the time of the offense, was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Sections 45 and  50 of  the Tax Code.

They said such violations of the Tax Code, if made by a public official, carry the maximum penalty which includes dismissal from the public service and perpetual disqualification from holding any public office to vote and to participate in any election.

"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 COC, particularly in part 22 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," the petitioners said.

Likewise, the petitioners argued that Comelec is mandated to cancel the COC of a candidate suffering from a penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office by virtue of final judgment or conviction as provided under a 2012 Supreme Court ruling on Efren Aratea vs. Comelec case.

"Wherefore, it is respectfully prayed that the Honorable Commission cancel outright the COC for President filed by Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. in connection with the 2022 National Elections for suffering perpetual disqualification from public office or that  said COC be denied due course," the petitioners said.

'Political propaganda'

Reacting to this, Marcos' camp dismissed the petition as "political propaganda" linked to "dilawan" or the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo, who is also running for president in 2022.

"Huwag po ninyong gawin entablado ang Comelec ng inyong napakarumi at mapalinlang na uri ng political propaganda [Don't use the Comelec as platform for your political propaganda]," said .
lawyer Vic Rodriguez, Marcos' chief of staff and spokesperson.

"No to gutter politics. Let us instead elevate the level of political discourse and talk about nation building."

Rodriguez said Marcos and his supporters will not be distracted by "these yellow political ruckus."

"We remain committed to presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos vow to bring that brand of unifying leadership in the country," he said.

Robredo had earlier said she would not interfere with the attempts to have Marcos' presidential candidacy canceled.

She also said Marcos should not worry if he believes that the cancellation bids were baseless.

A similar petition has earlier been filed by groups of human rights advocates and survivors of the Martial Law regime with the Comelec.

The petitioners argued that Marcos' conviction on these cases constitute a crime of moral turpitude, which supposedly disqualifies him from running as provided under Omnibus Election Law. 

The Comelec, for its part, said it is eyeing to resolve all petitions for cancellation of COC before the scheduled release of official list of candidates for next year's elections.  —KBK, GMA News