![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/image-2.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPresidential candidate Ferdinand \u201cBongbong\u201d Marcos Jr. is set to face disqualification charges in a preliminary conference with the First Division of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Friday, January 7. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the former senator\u2019s camp continues to call these \u201cnuisance cases\u201d and \u201cpathetic stunts,\u201d petitioners believe that they have grounds to end Marcos\u2019s survey-topping candidacy on grounds that the dictator’s son committed crimes involving moral turpitude. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is Marcos up against?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Eight petitioners challenged the former senator\u2019s candidacy on various grounds. Of these, two have been dismissed, while six remain undecided. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first petition, filed by fellow presidential candidate Danilo Lihaylihay, alleged that Marcos was a nuisance candidate. Lihaylihay, who was declared a nuisance candidate himself in 2016, argued that Marcos was making a mockery of the election by attempting to get his family back into Malacanang. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The poll body denied the petition on December 17, 2021 saying that Lihaylihay\u2019s \u201csweeping statements and unfounded claims utterly failed to establish that [Marcos’s] candidacy put the election process in mockery or disrepute.\u201d COMELEC also dismissed Tiburcio Marcos’s petition, arguing that Marcos, Jr. was ineligible because he is not the real son of the former dictator. He says the real Marcos heir died in 1975 and the one running is only an impostor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of the five pending cases, four call for disqualification, while one calls for the cancellation of the certificate of candidacy according to COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez A disqualification case allows a substitute with the same surname, while a cancellation case would treat Marcos as if he never filed his candidacy, and so would not allow substitution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n First Quarter Storm survivor Bonifacio Ilagan led the first disqualification case alleging that Marcos\u2019s failure to file his tax returns from 1982 to 1985 perpetually disqualifies him from running for any public office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, he said that Marcos made \u201cfalse material representations\u201d when he filed his candidacy and said he was never convicted of a disqualifying offence. He was joined by other human rights advocates, religious and youth leaders, as well as the convenors of the groupCampaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n They said that allowing Marcos Jr. to run \u201cis not just to disregard an express provision of the law, but, in no uncertain terms, would be to reward convicted criminals for the evils and unjust acts they have committed.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Akbayan Citizens Party and other human rights advocates, filed a similar petition on December 2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In response, Marcos spokesperson Atty. Vic Rodriguez said \u201cWe respect the right of every disillusioned groups to take whatever legal action they think would best serve their own agenda, as we also expect them to respect our right to be heard.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another petition citing Marcos Jr.\u2019s tax problems came from the members of Pudno Nga Ilokano. This group claims that the \u201cSolid North\u201d long-associated with the Marcoses no longer exists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “He is a government official who failed to file his proper taxes. Another is that under the NIRC, there is also a special disqualification to exercise the right of suffrage, ibig sabihin (that means) he is not a proper voter of the Philippines, and one of the qualifications to become a president of the Philippines is you must be a registered voter in the Philippines,” said their legal counsel, Paolo Santiago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Marcos camp said that these were pathetic stunts, and called on the petitioners to respect the Filipino people and their democratic right to decide for themselves and their collective future,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike the other three focusing on tax evasion cases, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Commissioner Abubakar Mangelen\u2019s case hinges on party affiliation. He claimed that he was the proper chairman of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), and that Marcos was not nominated properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n PFP Secretary-General Thompson Lantion, on the other hand, said that Mangelen was ousted in the party convention held in September 2021. Marcos left the Nacionalista Party and joined PFP in October 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sole cancellation petition led by Fr. Christian Buenafe, co-chairperson of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, and Fides Lim, board chairperson of political prisoners’ group KAPATID.goes further by claiming that Marcos lied about his eligibility in his Certificate of Candidacy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They secured documents from Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 105, allegedly confirming Marcos\u2019s conviction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHis continuing evasion of the sentence, coupled with his repeated misrepresentation of his eligibility all those times he ran for public office, is evidence of his intent to deceive the electorate and not to abide by the laws he aspires to execute,\u201d said their lead counsel, former Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Theodore Te. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What are the perspectives on the case??<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The fate of these cases are still in doubt, as both sides have seen victories and defeats over the past few months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On one hand, the COMELEC has already dismissed several cases against the Marcos heir. First, they decided to dismiss all \u201cpetitions-in-intervention\u201d related to the first case. These petitions aimed to join the first case against Marcos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The poll body said that they were dismissed because they were \u201ccrafty attempts to circumvent the deadline\u201d and that they delayed the proceedings. As previously mentioned, they have also junked two other cases for the lack of substance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Marcos supporters have celebrated these victories. They say that the dismissals prove that petitioners lack merit. Manila Times Columnist Yen Makabenta claimed that these dismissals are insufficient, and that the poll body is prolonging the other cases\u2019 dismissal to put Marcos Jr. in a bad light. He furthered that the COMELEC\u2019s delays were harassment against the former senator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the Marcos camp cannot be too confident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, also chair of the First Division, called on lawyers involved in the case to \u201c(please) shut up\u201d because nothing was decided. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The commissioner also rebuked Marcos spokesperson Atty. Rodriguez, demanding that the he does not \u201cdiminish\u201d the COMELEC\u2019s commissioners after Rodriguez stated they must assert their independence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Marcos cannot dismiss the danger easily. Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, for example, said that the documents certifying that Marcos failed to pay is a significant threat to the former senator. Albay Representative Edcel Lagman also said that the Buenafe-Lim petition raised legal issues that will be hard for the Marcos camp to ignore as nuisance. . <\/p>\n\n\n\n What happens next?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n COMELEC First Division set the preliminary conference on Saturday, January 7, at 9:00 AM to cover three petitions: Akbayan Partylist\u2019s petition, Ilagan\u2019s case with CARMMA, andMangelen\u2019s PFP complaint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of the poll body\u2019s findings, however, experts predict that the deliberations have a long way to go. Even COMELEC cannot put a definite date on these cases but assures that they will be treated with priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Five months before the May 2022 elections, Marcos tops Pulse Asia’s December 1-6 presidential survey at 53% while her major rival Leni Robredo comes in second at 20%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is up to the COMELEC to fulfill its mandate: preserving the integrity of the country\u2019s democracy. As they ponder the Marcos heir\u2019s fate, the fate of the nation hangs in the balance as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Featured image courtesy of Reuters<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n While the former senator\u2019s camp continues to call these \u201cnuisance cases\u201d and \u201cpathetic stunts,\u201d petitioners believe that they have grounds to end Marcos\u2019s survey-topping candidacy on grounds that the dictator’s son committed crimes involving moral turpitude.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3406,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[122],"class_list":["post-3402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-news-features"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-1-6.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3781,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/02\/11\/comelec-first-division-junks-dq-case-against-marcos-jr-failure-to-file-tax-returns-is-not-inherently-immoral\/","url_meta":{"origin":3402,"position":0},"title":"COMELEC first division junks DQ case against Marcos, Jr.: Failure to file tax returns is not ‘inherently immoral’","author":"Staff","date":"11 February 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cBy allowing him (Marcos Jr.) to run as president in the upcoming elections, Commissioners Ferolino and Casquejo have sided with the brazen lies and crimes of the Marcoses,\u201d Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA) stated. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) First Division dismissed the disqualification\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bongbong-marcos-family-tested-negative-of-covid-19-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bongbong-marcos-family-tested-negative-of-covid-19-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bongbong-marcos-family-tested-negative-of-covid-19-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bongbong-marcos-family-tested-negative-of-covid-19-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3656,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/02\/01\/groups-stand-with-guanzon-demand-ferolino-to-release-marcos-dq-ruling\/","url_meta":{"origin":3402,"position":1},"title":"Groups stand with Guanzon, demand Ferolino to release Marcos DQ ruling","author":"Staff","date":"1 February 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Anti-Marcos groups gathered today, February 1, in front of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Intramuros to demand the COMELEC First Division to release the delayed ruling on the three disqualification cases against the presidential candidate Ferdinand \u201cBongbong\u201d Marcos Jr. Anti-Marcos groups gathered today, February 1, in front of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-14.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-14.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-14.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-14.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-14.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-14.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4390,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/04\/22\/bongbong-nakatakas-sa-huling-dq-case\/","url_meta":{"origin":3402,"position":2},"title":"Bongbong, nakatakas sa huling DQ case","author":"Staff","date":"22 April 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Ibinasura ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC) First Division noong Miyerkules, Abril 20, ang huling disqualification case laban kay presidentiable Ferdinand \u201cBongbong\u201d Marcos Jr. na inihain ng grupong Pudno nga Ilokano. Ibinasura ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC) First Division noong Miyerkules, Abril 20, ang huling disqualification case laban kay presidentiable Ferdinand\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sinag-web-banner-11-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sinag-web-banner-11-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sinag-web-banner-11-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sinag-web-banner-11-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sinag-web-banner-11-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sinag-web-banner-11-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3628,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/01\/31\/no-space-for-democracy-with-human-rights-violator-in-the-elections-nusp\/","url_meta":{"origin":3402,"position":3},"title":"No space for democracy with human rights violator in the elections – NUSP","author":"Staff","date":"31 January 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cNgayon higit pa man, kailangan nang ilabas ng Commission on Elections ang kanilang desisyon hinggil sa disqualification case ni Marcos. Kailangang patunayan ng COMELEC na magiging patas sila sa pagpapataw ng desisyon.\u201d National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP)\u00a0on urging the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to release the delayed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Others"","block_context":{"text":"Others","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/others\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-14-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-14-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-14-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-14-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-14-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-14-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3634,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/01\/31\/marcos-jrs-failure-to-file-tax-returns-a-serious-defect-in-obes-moral-fiber-guanzon\/","url_meta":{"origin":3402,"position":4},"title":"Marcos Jr’s failure to file tax returns a “serious defect in obe’s moral fiber” – Guanzon","author":"Staff","date":"31 January 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Ang taong hindi nagbayad ng buwis habang siya'y gobernador apat na taon 'di nila kinulong? Minultahan lang nila. Pero, nagbayad ba siya ng multa? Inamin 'yan ng kaniyang abogado na hindi sila nagbayad ng multa. 'Yan ba kwalipikadong kandidato para pagkapresidente?\" Guanzon furthered.\u00a0 Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-15-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3457,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/01\/17\/comelec-2nd-division-junks-lone-coc-cancellation-case-vs-marcos-jr-3-dq-cases-remain\/","url_meta":{"origin":3402,"position":5},"title":"COMELEC 2nd Division junks lone “COC cancellation” case vs. Marcos Jr.; 3 DQ cases remain","author":"Staff","date":"17 January 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The petitioner's disagreed with the decision. \u201cIn essence, the COMELEC agreed with the petitioners that the representations made in Item 11 and Box 22 of the COC of Marcos Jr. are material but disagreed that they were false; in the process, the Second Division ruled that there was no ground\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-11-1-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-11-1-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-11-1-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-11-1-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-11-1-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-11-1-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":122,"user_id":9,"is_guest":0,"slug":"csspsinag","display_name":"Staff","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/194807626fee183640d3de57e788ba7c8c0d40bd86bfc1237bed56bcd3832c1b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3402"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3402\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3402"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=3402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"