HATAW! D'yaryo ng Bayan hatawtabloid.com
ni ROSE NOVENARIO
SI VICE PRESIDENT Leni Robredo ang dapat iluklok na ika-17 Pangulo ng Filipinas kapag nagpasya ang Korte Suprema na idiskalipika si presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Nakasaad ito sa inihaing ikalawang petisyon sa Korte Suprema para idiskalipika si Marcos Jr., bilang presidential bet sa katatapos na halalan.
Tulad ng unang petisyon, hiniling rin sa Kataas-taasang Hukuman nina Atty. Howard Calleja at ng mga miyembro ng Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law at martial law victims na ipatigil ang canvassing of votes para sa Presidente at Bise-Presidente sa Senado at Mababang Kapulungan na sisimulan sa susunod na linggo.
Katuwiran ng petitioners, walang bisa ang certificate of candidacy (COC) ni Marcos, Jr., mula noong umpisa pa lamang dahil siya’y convicted sa Quezon City Regional Trial Court bunsod ng kabiguang maghain ng income tax returns (ITRs) at magbayad ng kaukulang buwis.
Iginiit ng petitioners na nakasaad sa Section 286 ng 1977 Tax Code na sumasaklaw sa kaso ni Marcos, Jr., na kapag ang isang taong nahatulan sa paglabag sa Tax Code ay isang public official o employee “the maximum penalty prescribed for the offense shall be imposed and, in addition, he shall be dismissed from the public service and perpetually disqualified from holding any public office, to vote and to participate in any election.”
“Consequently, his continued evasion of sentence by not paying the fines imposed by both the trial and appellate courts constitute a moral turpitude violation under Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code,” sabi ng petitioners.
“Verily, the non-service of his sentence by his not paying of the fines imposed by the Regional Trial Court and affirmed by the Court of Appeals necessarily renders his ineligibility subsisting,” dagdag nila.
Anila, kapag nadiskalipika si Marcos, Jr., ang mga botong nakuha niya ay dapat ituring na stray votes at hindi bibilangin.
“We stand by the principles of truth and justice. As a fruit of a poisonous tree, no victory can be attained through lies and deceit. A disqualified and convicted candidate remains as such and no election can overshadow that,” sabi ni Calleja.
He added that “in order for us to move forward as one nation we have to implement our laws without fear or favor. Justice need not be popular it has to be fair, right, and implemented equally to everyone.”
Para kay dating Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) president Domingo Cayosa, kapag kinatigan ng Supreme Court ang petition para idiskalipika si Marcos Jr., ang presidential candidate na pumangalawa sa nakakuha ng pinakamaraming boto sa 2022 polls ang dapat maupong Pangulo ng bansa at hindi na kailangan pang magdaos ng special elections.
“Based on the more recent jurisprudence of the Supreme Court, sinasabi ng Supreme Court dito, kung disqualified ‘yung frontrunner o ‘yung may pinakamaraming boto, ang legal effect niyan as if stray votes lahat ng mga ‘yon, nasayang lang.
“So ngayon ang maka-canvass na boto o maipoproklama ay ‘yung second highest ang boto, wala nang special election kasi nga naman ang magiging effect ng disqualification is as if the candidate didn’t run. So this is based on the more recent jurisprudence of the Supreme Court.
“We don’t know whether or not they will stick to that. Abangan ang susunod na kabanata. We pray na gawin nila ito sa lalong madaling panahon,” sabi ni Cayosa sa panayam sa programang The Chiefs sa TV 5 kamakalawa ng gabi.
