In a 50-page petition, the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law pleaded to reverse the Commission on Elections’ decision to dismiss the petitions to disqualify Marcos from the presidential race.
The group noted that the son of the late dictator failed to file his income tax returns during his four-year stint as vice governor and governor of Ilocos Norte from 1982 to 1985.
“It shows an utter disregard of the laws which, as chief executive of the province of Ilocos Norte, respondent convicted candidate Marcos, Jr. took an oath to uphold. It is the repeated, deliberate, willful, and intentional violation of the tax code that makes such violation a crime involving moral turpitude,” the petitioners wrote.
Hence, the petitioners further argued that Marcos should be “perpetually disqualified” from running for public office due to violations of the Presidential Decree No. 1994, which further amends the National Internal Revenue Code.
“Being perpetually disqualified from running for public office, respondent convicted candidate Marcos, Jr’s votes are stray votes and should not be considered and counted,” the petition read.
Moreover, the petitioners plead the Supreme Court to declare incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo as the winner of the election race if Comelec’s decision was reversed.
To date, Marcos is leading with over 31 million votes as compared to Robredo’s 14 million votes.
The Congress will start the canvassing of votes for president and vice president on May 24.
For its part, the camp of Marcos said that they are confident that the “processes will uphold the overwhelming mandate that president-elect Bongbong Marcos has earned in the elections.”
“It is understandable for petitioners to want to exhaust all their remedies under the law, regardless of the dim chances of success,” said Atty. Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’ spokesperson, in a statement. “We live in a democracy and they enjoy rights under the constitution, including an appeal or to seek a restraining order.”
A similar petition was also filed on Tuesday before the high court.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 18) — A group seeking to prevent the return of the Marcoses in Malacañang filed a petition before the Supreme Court on Wednesday to issue a temporary restraining order to stop the Congress from canvassing votes of presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
