Hiniling ng Akbayan Party-list saCommission on Elections (Comelec) na ipawalang-saysay ang certificate of candidacy (COC) nipresidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr sa 2022 national elections matapos itong ma-convict sa kasong tax evasion noong 1995.
Sa pahayag ng Akbayan, wala umanong "legal at moral rights ang isang convicted big-time tax evader upang iboto ng milyun-milyong Pinoy na taxpayers."
“The call to cancel Bongbong’s candidacy is very simple. He was convicted of tax evasion in 1995. It carried the penalty of perpetual disqualification from running in and holding any public post. When he filed his certificate of candidacy for president, he omitted this fact, thus, forswearing himself and lying to the Comelec and the Filipino people,” paglalahad ni Akbayan First Nominee Perci Cendaña
“Bongbong’s perpetual disqualification is a fact, supported by legal documents and affirmed by our country’s courts. Just because nobody reminded us of this truth doesn’t mean it’s not real. Even his previous electoral candidacies and holding of public offices cannot diminish this reality. On the contrary, they only further exposed his mockery of our justice and electoral systems, and reinforced the need to bar him once and for all from competing in any future electoral contest,” pahayag nito.
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Idinagdag pa niCendaña, nilabag mismo ni Marcos angPresidential Decree (P.D. No. 1994, s. 1985) ng kanyang amang si dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos na nag-aamyenda saNational Internal Revenue Code of 1977 at nagpapataw ng parusangperpetual disqualification sa sinumang lumabag nito.
Pinakikilos ng Akbayan ang Comelec upang resolbahin agad ang mga petisyon ng ilang grupo na ikansela ang COC.
“We ask the Comelec to act on this petition urgently and protect our electoral democracy. This is a matter of both public trust and democratic integrity,” ayon kay Cendaña.
Nitong Huwebes, Nobyembre 4, nagsagawa ng “taxpayers’ protest action” ang Akbayan sa mismong harap ng Comelec Central Office sa Maynila.
Leslie Ann Aquino
