{"id":3781,"date":"2022-02-11T18:21:11","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T10:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csspsinag.wordpress.com\/?p=3781"},"modified":"2022-02-11T18:21:11","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T10:21:11","slug":"comelec-first-division-junks-dq-case-against-marcos-jr-failure-to-file-tax-returns-is-not-inherently-immoral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"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\/","title":{"rendered":"COMELEC first division junks DQ case against Marcos, Jr.: Failure to file tax returns is not ‘inherently immoral’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) First Division dismissed the disqualification cases for Ferdinand \u201cBongbong\u201d Marcos Jr. due to \u201clack of merit\u201d yesterday, February 10, 2022. Commissioner ponente<\/em> Aimee Ferolino and Commissioner Marlon Casquejo voted 2-0 in favor of the non-disqualification. With a unanimous vote, the son of the late dictator continues to campaign for the presidential elections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 41-page ruling stated that Marcos Jr. did not commit a crime of moral turpitude when he repeatedly failed to file his income tax return (ITR)  from 1982 to 1985. His guilty conviction<\/a> in 1995 by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court is grounds for disqualification under the election code. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs the failure to file tax returns inherently immoral? We submit that it is not. The failure to file tax returns is not inherently wrong in the absence of a law punishing it,\u201d stated the 41-page ruling<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the 41-page ruling cited Republic Act no. 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law as decriminalizing the non-filing of income tax returns. According to the ruling, Marcos, Jr. is a “purely compensation income earner,” thus passing the responsibility to the government to compute his taxes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the TRAIN Law, compensation income earners are permitted not to file their ITRs; hence, Marcos, Jr.’s case is not deemed as an offense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the First Division, the penalty of perpetual disqualification is to be applied only after the implementation of Presidential Decree No. 1994 on January 1, 1986, signed by late dictator and Marcos, Jr.’s father, Ferdinand Marcos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It cannot be used as grounds for Marcos Jr\u2019s disqualification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After news of the dismissal of the disqualification cases, the COMELEC received backlash from people through social media. Former commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who was previously part of the First Division, slammed COMELEC\u2019s resolution<\/a> saying that Ferolino chose to turn a blind eye to the circumstances on the offense of Marcos Jr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFerolino argued that Marcos Jr. did not voluntarily and intentionally violate the law. Is he stupid that he did not know that he should file an ITR? Di \u2018ba Oxford graduate daw siya, bakit hindi niya alam something as basic as that? Now, if alam niya that he should have filed, then his failure to file for four years is already an indicia that such failure was voluntary and intentional.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guanzon retired last February 2, following subsequent statements and clamors to the COMELEC to release the result. The former commissioner believed there was “political influence” involved, and that Ferolino deliberately delayed the ponencia<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA) also expressed their dismay at the ruling. However, the group also stated their lack of surprise on the result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\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 stated the group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CARMMA stands firmly with its petition to disqualify Marcos from the presidential elections, asserting that a convicted criminal should not be allowed to run for any government position, most especially the highest position in the government and the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose who espouse \u201cunity\u201d and do not acknowledge accountability for their high crimes against the people are the real nuisance and swindlers in this country. Unity without justice is impunity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another disqualification case<\/a> against Marcos is awaiting resolution before the COMELEC\u2019s Second Division, filed by the Pudno Nga Ilocano. The Second Division has also dismissed two other Marcos disqualification cases: the petition to declare Marcos a nuisance candidate by Danilo Lihaylihay, and a petition to cancel Marcos\u2019 certificate of candidacy by civic leaders. These were then appealed before the en banc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senatorial candidate and human rights lawyer Atty. Neri Colmenares lambasted the commission’s decision, asserting it as a dishonor on the legacy of martial law victims. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The law is clear, yet such resolutions distort the meaning of the law. It sets a dangerous precedent that upholds the favoring of allies at the expense of the rule of law,” Colmenares stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featured image courtesy of Philippines Lifestyle News<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[122],"class_list":["post-3781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bongbong-marcos-family-tested-negative-of-covid-19-1.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3656,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/02\/01\/groups-stand-with-guanzon-demand-ferolino-to-release-marcos-dq-ruling\/","url_meta":{"origin":3781,"position":0},"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":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":3781,"position":1},"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":[]},{"id":3643,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/01\/31\/groups-to-protest-decision-on-marcos-dq-cases-tomorrow\/","url_meta":{"origin":3781,"position":2},"title":"Groups to protest decision on Marcos DQ cases tomorrow","author":"Staff","date":"31 January 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Similar sentiments have been expressed by the petitioners and Marcos Jr.'s staunch critics, saying that the Commission's delay in releasing the First Division's decision on the petitions undermines the COMELEC's credibility in conducting fair and non-fraudulent elections.\u00a0 Various groups and sectors will put pressure on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)\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-16-1.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-16-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-16-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-16-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-16-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-16-1.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":3781,"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":3402,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/01\/06\/whats-wrong-with-bongbong-marcos-jr-faces-disqualification-cases\/","url_meta":{"origin":3781,"position":4},"title":"What’s wrong with Bongbong: Marcos Jr. faces disqualification cases","author":"Staff","date":"6 January 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"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 Presidential candidate Ferdinand \u201cBongbong\u201d Marcos Jr. is set to face disqualification charges in a\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-1-6.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-1-6.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-1-6.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-1-6.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-1-6.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-1-6.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3796,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/02\/14\/kahit-una-sa-survey-bongbong-bumackout-muli\/","url_meta":{"origin":3781,"position":5},"title":"Kahit una sa survey, Bongbong bumackout muli","author":"Staff","date":"14 February 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Missing in action din ang anak ni pangulong Duterte at vice presidentiable na si Sara Duterte-Carpio. Kinumpirma ng CNN na hindi makadadalo si Duterte-Carpio sa vice presidential debates sa Pebrero 26, ngunit wala raw itong binigay na ni kahit anong paliwanag. Muling liliban si presidential candidate at convicted tax evader\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-26-1.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-26-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-26-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-26-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-26-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-26-1.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\/3781","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=3781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3781\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3781"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=3781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}