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Philippine dictator’s son Ferdinand Marcos Jnr hit with petition aimed at blocking presidential bid
- A group representing political detainees, human rights and medical organisations said a tax evasion conviction disqualifies Marcos Jnr
- The son of the former strongman came second to President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter Sara in the latest opinion poll of preferred presidential candidates
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A group of individuals who opposed the dictatorship of late Philippines strongman Ferdinand Marcos sought on Tuesday to block his son’s 2022 presidential bid, saying a two-decade-old conviction for tax evasion disqualified him from the race.
In a 57-page petition filed with the poll body, the group representing political detainees, human rights and medical organisations argued that Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr is not eligible to run for any public office as he is a “convicted criminal”.
Marcos Jnr’s spokesman, Victor Rodriguez, on Wednesday called the petition “propaganda” and said they would address “this predictable nuisance” when they receive a formal copy of it. The issue, which should be resolved by elections commissioners before the May 9 vote, could spark a legal battle that could go all the way to the Supreme Court.
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declared on October 5 that he would run for president.
He is one of several politicians – including former boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Vice-President Leni Robredo – hoping to succeed Rodrigo Duterte, who cannot seek re-election.
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His planned candidacy has angered victims of his father’s brutal rule of almost two decades, which ended when Marcos was overthrown in 1986.
“He did not only fail to file his income tax return once, but for four consecutive years, continuously violating the laws that he swore to protect and uphold. This shows moral depravity and abuse of power,” the petition said.
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