Comelec dismisses disqualification raps vs Bongbong Marcos

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division dismissed three consolidated disqualification cases against presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for lack of merit, stating his conviction for tax violations in the 1990s did not involve moral turpitude.

The Comelec cited that the penalty of perpetual disqualification would only be in effect upon the law's effectivity on January 1, 1986, and thus could not be applied to violations committed before.

Former First Division Presiding Commissioner Maria Rowena V. Guanzon released a separate opinion voting to disqualify Marcos Jr., calling him an ex-convict and citing his deliberate intent to violate the law.

Petitioners, including the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA), vowed to appeal the decision to the Comelec en banc, expressing dismay and suspicion over the delayed release and exclusion of Guanzon's dissenting opinion.

CARMMA called the decision a "cop-out" and criticized Commissioners Aimee Ferolino and Marlon Casquejo for siding with "brazen lies" and dismissing their petition for lack of merit.

Marcos Jr.'s camp welcomed the decision, with his spokesman calling the petitions "nuisance petitions" and accusing the petitioners of lying and misleading the Comelec.

Marcos Jr. stated that he can now continue campaigning without distractions and reiterated his call for unity.