Martial law victims seek Bongbong Marcos' disqualification from Eleksyon 2022

A group of martial law victims on Wednesday filed a disqualification case against presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

According to a tweet by GMA News' Joseph Morong, the petition was filed by Bonifacio Ilagan, former lawmaker Satur Ocampo, and several other victims of the military rule implemented by Marcos' father and namesake, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

According to the petitioners, Bongbong Marcos should not be allowed to run for president because of his conviction for violating the Internal Revenue Code, which carries the penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding any public office.

They noted that in 1995, a Quezon City court convicted Marcos for not filing his income tax return from 1982-1984. The conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeals but removed the imprisonment sentence.

Marcos, they said, did not appeal the ruling.

GMA News Online has reached out to Marcos' spokesperson, Atty. Vic Rodriguez but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Lawyer Howard Calleja, representing the petitioners, said that he will file a motion for a speedy trial for the first case to cancel Marcos’ certificate of candidacy.

“Tomorrow I will file a motion for speedy trial to decide the case immediately for the first case para mabilisan kasi  I think 20 something pa yung next hearing so I am hoping that I can push or seek the remedy of fast decision from the court that is why I will be filing tomorrow,” Calleja said.

At least two petitions asking for the cancellation of Marcos' certificate of candidacy for president have been filed with the Comelec, citing his tax conviction.

Rodriguez earlier said the Comelec has no jurisdiction over the decision of the Court of Appeals. He also dismissed the petitions as "political propaganda."

The poll body is set to discuss the merits of the petitions on November 26.  —Hana Bordey/KBK, GMA News