Presidential aspirant Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. speaks during the Agri 2022 Online Forum. Image from Facebook / Bongbong Marcos
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Hold Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. in contempt, Akbayan Partylist urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday, pointing out the presidential aspirant鈥檚 lies about his absence during the preliminary conference on the disqualification cases filed against him.
鈥�(惭补谤肠辞蝉)听lied through his teeth. He deserves to be held in contempt,鈥� the group said in a statement.
Comelec鈥檚 preliminary conference on January 7 was delayed for an hour as the poll body waited for Marcos鈥檚 medical certificate to justify his absence from the hearing.
A medical certificate stating that the former senator needed to rest due to 鈥渄ifficulty speaking and a painfully congested throat,鈥� was then produced by his camp.
Akbayan, however, pointed out that Marcos Jr. was able to virtually attend a radio interview to talk about his platforms on the afternoon of January 6, a day before the preliminary conference.
鈥淜aya magpa-interview sa radio, pero hindi kaya dumalo sa hearing ng kanyang kaso?鈥� Akbayan First Nominee Percival Cenda帽a said, pointing out that this showed that Marcos is 鈥渃learly lying鈥� and 鈥渄oes not care about our laws.鈥�
(He can be interviewed on radio, but cannot attend the hearing of cases against him?)
鈥淗e is clearly lying. The fact that he was able to give a radio interview less than a day before his required appearance in a hearing is not only proof of deception, it shows the whole nation that he does not care about our laws and the procedures that bind every citizen to follow them,鈥� Cenda帽a lamented.
鈥淭his is proof, yet again, that he is not qualified to run for public office. We urge the good officers of the Comelec to hold Marcos in contempt and have it reflect as a matter of record for future proceedings,鈥� he continued.
Marcos spokesperson lawyer Vic Rodriguez explained that the former鈥檚 condition worsened after the radio interview. Hence, unable to attend the hearing.
鈥淎fter the interview, his physician arrived and determined that he had a fever and throat swelling, [he] was instructed to take a midday rest,鈥� said Rodriguez on Sunday.
鈥淢id-afternoon however, he went on with another radio interview. We believe it was that afternoon interview which exacerbated his condition,鈥� he added.
Akbayan criticized the justification of Marcos鈥檚 lawyer.
鈥淎ng sinungaling ay kapatid ng magnanakaw. Sa simpleng medical certificate nakita muli natin ang totoong pagkatao ni Bongbong. Sinungaling. Walang respeto sa batas. Mandaraya. Scammer. As they say, there is no better test of a man鈥檚 integrity than his behavior when he is wrong,鈥� Cenda帽a said.
(A liar and a thief are siblings. From a simple medical certificate, we saw Bongbong鈥檚 true character. Liar. He has no respect for the law. Cheater.)
He further stressed: 鈥淪obra na, tama na ang pagpapaikot at palusot.鈥�
(It鈥檚 too much, enough with the games and excuses.)
黑料社 has already reached out to the Marcos camp but has yet to respond as of posting time.