Bongbong Marcos’ camp expected junking of ‘nuisance candidate’ petition

Lawyer Victor Rodriguez, chief of staff and spokesperson of presidential aspirant and former senatpr Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (Screengrab from PTV)

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of presidential aspirant and former senatorFerdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Satueday said it expected the dismissal of the petition seeking to declare him a nuisance candidate.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division denied the petition filed by Danilo Lihaylihay, saying Marcos’ candidacy did not fall under any of the categories to declare a political aspirant as a nuisance candidate – if one filed a candidacy to make mockery of the elections; cause confusion among voters like having similarity of names; and demonstrate the lack of a bona fide intention to run for office.

“The dismissal of the case is expected as this is among the  multiple nuisance petitions filed against presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos,” Marcos Jr.’s spokesperson Victor Rodriguez said in a statement on Saturday.

There are six other cases filed before the Comelec seeking to challenge Marcos Jr.’s presidential bid: the two petitions to cancel his COC, and four other disqualification cases.

“We have always maintained that there exists no legal basis to cancel the certificate of candidacy nor disqualify Uniteam presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos and that elections are won and settled through the ballots on election day, not by maliciously filing nuisance petitions,” Rodriguez added.

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