Thread by @mikenavallo

The petition to cancel or deny certificate of candidacy of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. filed before Comelec is anchored on his supposed "false material representation" that he is eligible to run for President of PH, despite having been convicted of tax evasion.

Petitioners from Task Force Detainees of PH, KAPATID, Medical Action Group, FIND, PH Alliance of Human Rights Advocates and Balay say Marcos' 1995 conviction for tax evasion should prevent him from running for president, even if CA reduced penalty to fine.

Marcos was convicted for failure to file mandatory income tax returns from 1982 to 1985. Mere conviction, according to petitioners, perpetually disqualifies him from running for any public office.

Petitioners also argue Marcos' repeated failure to file his income tax returns and the failure to pay estate tax initially amounting to P23 billion (now P203.8B) are crimes involving moral turpitude, rendering him ineligible to hold public office.

Moral turpitude refers to an "act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private duties..." and "encompasses everything which is done contrary to justice, honesty, or good morals."

A third ground raised by petitioners vs Marcos: the tax evasion conviction carried with it a mandatory penalty of more than 18 months jail time which is a ground for disqualifying him from running for any public office under the Omnibus Election Code.

CA affirmed Marcos' conviction in 1997 but merely imposed a fine. Marcos appealed the ruling to the SC but he withdrew it in 2001. Petitioners argue it was improper for CA to impose only a fine with the Tax Code clearly imposes both fine and jail time.

Petitioners argue Marcos "falsely declared under oath that he is eligible for the office he seeks too be elected to." He also "falsely declared under oath" he has never been found liable for an offense with penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office.

Under sec 78 of Omnibus Election Code, a petition to deny due course to or cancel a COC may be filed on the ground of "false material representation" not later than 25 days from filing of COC and shall be decided, after notice and hearing, not later than 15 days before election.

What prompted petitioners -- who are heads of orgs of mostly Martial law victims -- to file petition vs Marcos? #ANCRundown talks to Fides Lim, one of the petitioners, 7:30am tomorrow, Wednesday, on ANC.

FULL STORY

Civic groups on Tuesday filed a petition before the Comelec to either cancel or deny due course to the certificate of candidacy of presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. over his supposed "false material representation.” 

news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/02/21/…