Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has fully paid all his taxes and fines in the tax cases he was convicted for, his spokesman said Wednesday, contrary to the statements of petitioners seeking to block his presidential bid in the 2022 elections.
Marcos' chief of staff and spokesperson Vic Rodriguez showed a certification from the Bureau of Internal Revenue dated Dec. 9, 2021 indicating that the presidential aspirant has paid all his income taxes from 1982 to 1985 as early as December 2001.
The total deficiency taxes and penalties paid amounted to a total of P67,137.27, the exact amount stipulated in the 1997 Court of Appeals decision on the tax cases.
"Walang pagkakautang si Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. na buwis or tax deficiency or penalty or interest. Bayad at binayaran nang matagal na panahon," Rodriguez said in a press conference.
"Walang basehan to disqualify Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. Walang basehan to deny or not to give due course to his certificate of candidacy," he added.
The petitioners earlier secured a certification from the Quezon City Regional Trial Court stating that there was no record of Marcos satisfying the court's decision to pay his tax deficiencies and the corresponding penalties.
They said Marcos was ineligible to run for president due to his tax evasion conviction, which carried a penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Rodriguez reiterated his call to the petitioners to stop using the Comelec for their political propaganda.
"Huwag na nating perwisyuhin ang Comelec. Ang daming mas seryosong trabaho ng Comelec na dapat nilang paghandaan patungkol sa nalalapit na May 9, 2022 elections," he said.
"It's high time for the Commission on Election na i-assert ang kanilang independence at i-assert ang kanilang constitutional mandate," he added.
Marcos is facing at least six formal petitions before the Comelec seeking to block his presidential bid. The poll body earlier denied a petition to declare him as a nuisance candidate, citing lack of evidence.
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