Human rights groups have asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to cancel or deny due course to the certificate of candidacy (COC) filed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for president because he is a convicted criminal.
Ghost of cases past: Carpio floats cause for Marcos Jr’s possible disqualification
In a 51-page petition filed Tuesday (November 2), the petitioners said Marcos falsified his COC when he claimed he’s eligible to run for president when he was already disqualified from holding public office after being convicted of tax evasion in 1995.
A Quezon City regional trial court convicted Marcos for violation of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) for his failure to file income tax returns from 1982 to 1985. The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeals and can no longer be appealed to the Supreme Court.
“In the instant case, not only has respondent Marcos Jr. been convicted of a crime by final judgment which carries the penalty of perpetual disqualification, his repeated violations of the NIRC and his continued evasion/non-payment of taxes renders his conviction as one involving moral turpitude,” the petitioners said.
“Clearly, the misrepresentation made by respondent Marcos Jr. is apparent and cannot be denied herein and should warrant the cancellation of the Subject COC,” they added.
While the CA upheld Marcos’ conviction for tax evasion by the RTC, the petitioners said the appellate tribunal “illegally modified” the lower courts decision by imposing a fine on the late dictator’s son but not sentencing him to jail.
“Section 254 of the 1977 NIRC, however, mandates the imposition of both a fine and imprisonment for any conviction due to, among others, the failure to file a return, pay taxes, withhold and remit taxes and refund excess taxes withheld on compensation,” they said.
The petitioners seeking the cancellation of Marcos’ COC are: Fr. Christian Buenafe, co-chairperson of Task Force Detainees; Fides Lim, board chair of Kapatid-Families and Friends of Political Prisoners; Ma. Edeliza Hernandez, executive director of the Medical Action Group Celia Lagman Sevilla, secretary general of the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance; Roland Vibal Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, and Josephine Lascano, executive director of the Balay Rehabilitation Center.
The post Comelec urged to cancel Marcos Jr.’s COC: Convicted tax evader can’t run for public office first appeared on .Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
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