The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has denied a petition to declare presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. a nuisance candidate.
Poll spokesperson James Jimenez said petitioner Danilo Lihaylihay, who is also a presidential bet for 2022 national elections, failed to substantiate proof that Marcos could be considered a nuisance.
In a seven-page decision by the Comelec second division, it said that Marcos’ candidacy did not fall under any of the three broad categories of nuisance candidates: one who has filed a candidacy to throw the election process in mockery or disrepute, cause confusion among voters by the similarity of names, or that some acts or circumstances clearly demonstrate the lack of a bona fide intention to run for office.
The ruling, penned by Comelec Commissioner Socorro Inting, said the petitioner’s reasoning that Marcos Jr. put the election in mockery because of his purpose to have his family return to Malacanang Palace “fails to convince.”
The poll body said there was no act or circumstance that Marcos has no bona fide intention to run for president as he previously served as vice governor, governor, representative of Ilocos Norte, and senator, and was a candidate for vice president in the 2016 polls.
“In stark contrast to what Petitioner attempts to depict, the circumstances obtained in this case actually demonstrate that Respondent has a bona fide intention to run for President of the country,” it added.
Six other petitions against the presidential bid of Marcos are pending before the Comelec – two petitions to cancel his candidacy and four disqualification cases.
