When the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) officially opened the submission of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) last October 1, 2021, public dispute sparked as candidates with questionable backgrounds filed for presidency. One controversy led to another that ultimately unearthed different issues concerning candidates’ credibility and eligibility as they fight over the country’s highest post.
Article VII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution lays forth the requirements for anyone who aspires to be President of the Philippines. According to the constitution, a person can run for the post of President if they fit the following qualifications: (1) is a natural born Filipino; (2) a registered voter; (3) must be able to read and write; (4) At least 40 years of age at the day of the election; and (5) must have resided in the Philippines 10 years before the election is held.
While these qualifications reflect the country's democratic system, these very laws are often criticized by voters as shallow and lacking. With more and more individuals with backgrounds on dishonesty and incompetence repeatedly securing high offices, people’s trust in the Philippine government is being put at stake. Consequently, assessing the depth and gravity of a president’s work, shouldn't the qualifications for running for president be amended considering moral obligation at the very least?
Last October 5, 2021, an issue regarding Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s education in Oxford University blew up when he filed his candidacy for president in the 2022 elections. Many of his critics questioned his education in the United Kingdom (UK), arguing that the special diploma he gained from the said university does not equate to a full graduate diploma– which is quite opposite to what Marcos Jr. claims.
Filipino artist Ruston Banal inquired with Oxford University about Bongbong’s’ education there and confirmed through an email that the said presidential aspirant did not attain a degree. The university further elaborated that “a special diploma is not a degree, and neither is it comparable, superior nor equivalent to one.” Despite this, Marcos Jr. has insisted that he earned a bachelor’s degree from Oxford University, despite the fact that his name does not appear on the university's list of graduates.
This issue does not only tackle the need to add educational attainment in the list of qualifications for presidency to back their eligibility but also concerns a candidate’s value for education and ratifying the value of honesty. If ordinary Filipino laborers are struggling to meet eligibility requirements just to qualify for a job or promotion, why are people who are vying for the country’s highest post not required to have at least an educational attainment? Knowing how to read and write would not suffice as running an entire country requires a certain degree of specialization. If young people are taught that education is important for their future, why is someone freely running for presidency after faking his degree? Filipinos need to be led by persevering leaders, with a higher degree of integrity.
During the 2016 national elections, the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago ran for presidency and set a high standard on the position during her campaigning. Considering her track record in politics and charisma to the people, Santiago arguably had a good shot at getting the executive position if only she wasn’t ill. During the campaign period, many of her critics questioned her capability to run as president because of her stage four lung cancer. Despite her health issues, she remained firm that people should not worry for her health and that she was capable of running for presidency and potentially lead the country.
Santiago did have a choice on whether or not to disclose her health condition to the public in the first place given that there is no law requiring government officials to open up politicians’ medical records to the public. This was also the reason why she didn't further release updates regarding her illness which left the public clueless as to whether she recovered or not. However, this isn't just some ordinary job we're talking about. Even though she might have won, she would not be able to continue her term as she was later consumed by her sickness. If a candidate’s health condition would be a major hindrance later on in fulfilling his/her job to lead the country, shouldn't it be mandatory for the public to know their physical conditions?
This issue isn't a matter that can be shrugged off Filipinos’ shoulders because the nation’s interest should be a priority. Yes, the vice president can just assume the elected president’s seat if in any case the elected commander-in-chief fails to fulfill their responsibilities, let's say because of certain health problems. But resorting to this would only invalidate the people’s vote. After all, the voting public’s right to know should always outweigh a presidential candidate’s claim to privacy.
This May 2022 elections, it really is disappointing to witness that individuals with cases of anomalies are freely running for public offices — many in the senate, and one in presidency. Ferdinand “Bong bong” Marcos Jr.’s tax evasion case is a hot topic especially for his critics. There have been disqualification cases on top of disqualification cases against him and his camp because of his failure to file his Income Tax Returns (ITRs) when he was still a governor in Ilocos Norte. And the delay or neglect concerning these petitions is because of unclear laws regarding cases of crime — which also puts COMELEC in question.
They have been refuting the petitions against Marcos Jr. by claiming that he did not commit a crime involving moral turpitude—a ground for disqualification under the omnibus election code. However petitioners continue to stand firm with their case by arguing that moral turpitude is not limited to crimes that involve fraud or that are inherently evil like murder or rape because Marcos Jr. refused to file ITRs repeatedly, for four years. With such a way of his neglect for basic moral obligation, it shows that he disregards the law.
Bongbong’s tax conviction should immediately disqualify him from running for presidency — and so are the other criminally convicted candidates vying for a national position. Him being a convict for a crime that he committed multiple times should prove how questionable his integrity is. He should be held accountable for his crimes and be punished with disqualification for presidency because of his violation of his legal obligation. But even more so, an amendment concerning qualifications for running in the presidential elections would be the first step to prohibit convicts like Marcos Jr. from having a chance at the highest office.
It is just disappointing to see that in order for Filipinos to uphold their being a democratic country, they always have to compromise the kind of government that will lead the nation. If one will look anywhere in the world, it's only in the Philippines that things like this happen. People continue to allow thieves, liars, and even convicts to claim public offices because of laws that are shallow or worse, nonexistent to ban them from running in the elections. Normalizing the shallow and presidential qualifications won’t do the Philippines any good— it will only enable inefficient leaders, liars, and thieves to take control of Filipinos.
It's about time for the national government to pass laws that would disqualify candidates with underwhelming educational backgrounds, doubtful health conditions, and most especially, proven criminal records for elections shouldn’t be reduced to a mere popularity contest. Gone are the days where Filipinos feast over politicians with rotten reputations. It may take an eternity and a day to amend election laws, but the initial steps must be taken now.
Today, as the national elections draw to a close, it seems that the controversial Bongbong Marcos is set to take up residence in the Malacañang once again, despite the many disqualification charges thrown at his campaign and amidst the anomalies that make up the entire electoral process this 2022. Many are hoping that there is still light at the end of the tunnel as petitioners further file a disqualification case against the forerunning candidate. A case was filed in the Supreme Court this week seeking for the cancellation of the Certificate of Candidacy of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The case is rooted from the conviction of Marcos Jr. for the non-filing of ITR from 1982 to 1984. Petitioners argue that non-filing of ITR constitutes a moral turpitude which disqualifies him to run from public office. For now, Filipinos hold their breathe for the Supreme Court’s final verdict on BBM’s tireless pursuit of power. #
The sad reality we're living in is that many choose to turn a blind eye. Plus, many are being victimized by an enormous disinformation and propaganda machinery.