ni Jasmin Joy Evangelista | January 17, 2022
Ibinasura ng Comelec 2nd division ang petisyon na kanselahin ang COC ni presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos na dahil umano sa material misrepresentation.
Nakatakda ring maglabas ng resolusyon ang COMELEC 1st Division para sa tatlong consolidated petitions para sa disqualification ng dating senador.
Ayon kay Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez ngayong Lunes, ibinasura ng Second Division ang petisyon ng anti-Marcos regime activists na pinangungunahan ni Task Force Detainees chair Fr. Christian Buenafe dahil sa lack of merit. Iginiit sa petisyon na hindi eligible na tumakbo sa kahit anong public office si Marcos dahil umano sa tax evasion conviction noong 1995.
Sinabi rin ng petitioners na pineke ni Marcos ang kanyang COC nang sabihin nitong eligible siyang maging kandidato sa pagkapangulo ng Pilipinas sa 2022 national elections sa kabila ng kanyang tax conviction.
“The Second Division ruled that the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1994 did not apply to the case, because that would have resulted in a retroactive application since an NIRC of 1994 took effect only in 1986, whereas the cases involved in this case, were ’82, ’83, and ’84,” ani Jimenez sa isang press briefing.
“So for this reason, when respondent Marcos Jr. checked the item on the COC saying that he has no disqualifications, it was not a misrepresentation,” dagdag niya.
Ayon naman kay Atty. Theodore Te, counsel for petitioners, na sila ay hihiling ng reconsideration hinggil sa naging desisyon.
"Petitioners disagree with the Comelec in its ruling, among others, that the material representations made were not false and will seek reconsideration of the Resolution with the Commission En Banc within the five-day period provided under the Comelec Rules”, ayon sa pahayag.
Ayon pa kay Te, lumabas sa desisyon na sumang-ayon ang poll body nang igiit nila na "material" ang mga representations na ginawa sa Item 11 at Box 22 ng COC ni Marcos Jr.
Gayunpaman, sinabi ng division na hindi sila sang-ayon na "false" ito dahilan para kanilang sabihin na walang dahilan para ikansela ang kanyang kandidatura.
“Counsels are not free to discuss the grounds to be included in the Motion for Reconsideration until the same is filed. Additional updates will be provided once the same is filed,” dagdag pa ng pahayag.