Petitioners ask Comelec to reconsider Marcos Jr. disqualification case

A group of petitioners, including Akbayan party-list, have filed motions for reconsideration with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking to reverse the dismissal of their petition to disqualify presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

They argue that Marcos Jr. should be barred from running for president due to his conviction for violating the National Internal Revenue Code, which they believe is a crime involving moral turpitude.

The petitioners contend that the Comelec's First Division "erred in considering the evidence filed by Marcos despite his failure to file his formal offer on time."

They also claimed the First Division "erred in finding that the respondent convicted candidate Marcos Jr. was not perpetually disqualified from running for public office."

Furthermore, the petitioners asserted that the First Division "erred" in finding that Marcos was not meted a penalty of imprisonment or more than 18 months or for a crime involving moral turpitude.

Akbayan also asked Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino to inhibit from the en banc review, citing allegations of political interference.

The petitioners also took exception with how the First Division arrived at its resolution, saying that the Comelec may have violated its own rules when it issued the decision with only two actively serving commissioners.

The case will now be reviewed by the Comelec en banc, with commissioners who were not members of the First Division weighing in on the case.