WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Former senator and deposed dictator’s son Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is at the forefront of one of the most legally contested presidential bids in Philippine history, with over half a dozen cases filed against his candidacy for the May 9 elections.
Arguments for his disqualification revolve around his tax conviction in the 1990s, but the Marcos camp has called these cases “nuisance” and “mere propaganda.”
Can Marcos run for president?
Bookmark this page for updates on the cases against Marcos. – Rappler.com
LATEST UPDATES
Comelec 2nd Division junks petition to cancel Marcos Jr.’s COC
The Commission on Elections Second Division junked the only petition to cancel the COC of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. – a win point for the son of the dictator who’s facing numerous cases against his presidential bid. #PHVote #WeDecide https://t.co/mxZjNiCdnq pic.twitter.com/Nh70iXpVhy
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) January 17, 2022
According to petitioners' counsel @TedTe "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." #PHVote #WeDecide | via @lianbuan
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) January 17, 2022
Any division ruling of the Comelec is appealable to its en banc, afterwhich parties can move to elevate to the Supreme Court. #PHVote #WeDecide | via @lianbuan
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) January 17, 2022
LOOK: Here are material pages from the 32-page decision of the 2nd div penned by Comm Socorro Inting, concurred in by Comms Kho and Bulay. It says Marcos' info in COC that he had not been meted with perpetual DQ was not false, because CA ruling in 1997 did not say so. | @lianbuan pic.twitter.com/Svd3ozlJkG
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) January 17, 2022
READ: Marcos' spokesperson Vic Rodriguez says: "The petitioners’ mere creativity for writing and wanting what is not written in the law as basis to cancel the COC of Marcos is way too frivolous and unmeritorious to override the basic precepts of the Constitution." | via @lianbuan pic.twitter.com/fKXnM0M3RE
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) January 17, 2022
Comelec director Lai David: No decision will be released today
UPDATE: Contradicting Jimenez, Comelec director Lai David tells Teleradyo no decision will be released today.
— Dwight De Leon (@newsdwight) January 17, 2022
"'Di pa po ready ang draft. Kasama na rin po iyong lawyers sa office ng commissioner na sinubmit, iyong ponente po, tinamaan ng COVID."
What is the 1997 tax conviction all about?
We found the records of the Court of Appeals (CA) from 1997 when the appellate court modified the ruling, and convicted Marcos only of failure to file income tax returns, acquitting him of tax evasion.
The CA did not impose imprisonment for Marcos’ conviction, and that ruling became final in 2001 because Marcos did not appeal to the Supreme Court, as one would naturally do with a conviction.
Twenty four years later, the unappealed CA ruling is beneficial to Marcos because had he been sentenced to imprisonment, as the tax code provides, it would have been a clearer ground for disqualification.
Disqualify Marcos? Robredo prefers to beat old rival in the polls
If it were up to Vice President Leni Robredo, she’d rather defeat her rival Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the May presidential race – just like she did in the 2016 VP contest – to put a stop to his lies about cheating once and for all.
Read more here.
Most contested presidential bid in PH history
The Comelec once described Marcos’ candidacy as one of the most contested in history.
Eight petitions have been filed against him, five of which are still pending.
Point by point: Cases vs Marcos’ candidacy and his answers so far
Almost all of the petitions against the candidacy of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. have to do with his 1997 conviction for failure to file income tax returns (ITRs) when he was vice governor and governor of Ilocos Norte from 1982-1985.
One group of petitioners showed a court certification that Marcos has not complied yet to a judgment that he pay deficient taxes and fines. Marcos’ camp says the presidential aspirant paid directly to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
What disqualification petitions will be decided on today?
The Commission on Elections’ 1st Division will issue a ruling on the following petitions today:
SPA 21-194: Ilagan et al vs Marcos (filed by Martial Law survivors)
SPA 21-232: Akbayan et al vs Marcos (filed by party-list group Akbayan and other civic leaders)
SPA 21-233: Mangelen vs Marcos (filed by a faction of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas)
All three petitions cited Marcos’ tax conviction in the 1990s as basis to disqualify him from the 2022 race under Philippine laws.
Comelec division to rule on Marcos cases ’10 am onwards’ today, January 17
The Rappler team is on standby for the expected promulgation of the ruling on three consolidated disqualification petitions against presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body will come out with a resolution “10 am onwards” today, Monday, while Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the reading of the decision will be livestreamed.