MANILA, Philippines — Kung tuluyang madi-disqualify si dating Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos mula sa 2022 presidential race, nagbubukas ang napakaraming posibilidad sa kahahantungan ng darating na halalan.
Ito ang paliwanag ng Commission on Elections (Comelec), Lunes, habang lumalabong mabasa ng poll body ngayong hapon ang desisyon sa isyu. Una na nilang sinabi na mailalabas ito ngayong araw.
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"I got an information that the staff, the lawyers in charge of drafting [it] is infected by COVID. They are trying to prioritize first 'yung health ng staff nila," wika ni Comelec Director 3 Elaiza Sabile David sa isang media briefing kanina.
Kaugnay pa rin ito ng consolidated disqualification cases ng Akbayan party-list, grupo ng Martial Law survivors at hiwalay na petisyon ng Pudno Nga Ilokano.
Ngayong Lunes din ibinasura ng isang dibisyon ng Comelec ang isang petisyon para kanselahin ang Certifiate of Candidacy ni Marcos.
Pwede i-substitute nina Imee, misis ni BBM
Sa ilalim ng Section 77 ng Omnibus Election Code, pwedeng i-substitute ang na-disqualify na kandidato hanggang kalagitnaan ng mismong araw ng eleksyon kung merong partido ang nabanggit.
If after the last day for the filing of certificates of candidacy, an official candidate of a registered or accredited political party dies, withdraws or is disqualified for any cause, only a person belonging to, and certified by, the same political party may file a certificate of candidacy to replace the candidate who died, withdrew or was disqualified. The substitute candidate nominated by the political party concerned may file his certificate of candidacy for the office affected in accordance with the preceding sections not later than mid-day of the day of the election.
"Basta kaapelido... Hindi kailangan na kapamilya. Ang kailangan lang, kaapelido," paliwanag ni Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez kanina.
"Kunwari si Imee Marcos, technically yes [pwede]. Siyempre, Marcos din 'yan eh. 'Yung Liza Araneta-Marcos who is married to Ferdinand Marcos Jr., again, technically pwede rin. Kaapelido rin eh."
Hindi rin daw kailangang kapartido ni Marcos ang papalit sa kanya.
Si Bongbong, na anak ng yumaong diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos, ay miyembro ng Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
"Should the substitute be a member of the party? The rules don't say. The rules only say kaapelido. Same surname," dagdag pa ng Comelec spokesperson.
"Not necessarily [kapartido]."
Marcos votes 'di bibilangin kahit nasa balota
Meron ding scenario kung saan maaaring hindi na talaga bilangin ang boto kay Marcos, kung walang mag-substitute sa kanya.
Ito ay alinsunod naman sa Section 211 (24) ng Omnibus Election Code.
Any vote cast in favor of a candidate who has been disqualified by final judgment shall be considered as stray and shall not be counted but it shall not invalidate the ballot.
"If the candidate is disqualified before the elections but after the ballots have been printed, obviously the name [of Bongbong] remains on the ballot, and any vote garnered by that name on the ballot would be considered stray," paliwanag pa ni Jimenez.
Kanina lang nang sabihin ni David na isasama ang pangalan ni BBM sa mga iiimprentang pangalan ng mga opisyal na kandidato sa 2022, bagay na tiyak na para sa mga overseas Filipino voters.
Mananalong VP magiging presidente
Pero paano kung ma-disqualify si Marcos sa 2022 elections matapos itong mapalanunan sa Mayo? Mapupunta ang presidency sa mananalong bise presidente.
"From what I understand of the law that applies right now, that particular set of circumstances would lead to the vice president succeeding. Not the second placer," saad pa ng tagapagsalita ng Comelec.
"Kasi nanalo siya eh... na-disqualify lang, which means that valid naman 'yung election, disqualified lang 'yung candidate... I believe that the resolution would be for the law of succession to activate, therefore it's the sitting vice president that would succeed."
Sa isinagawang survey ng Pulse Asia nitong Disyembre 2021, nangunguna sa pagkabise presidente ang running mate ni Marcos at presidential daughter na si Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Sinusundan naman siya Nationalist People's Coalition vice presidential bet Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.