The Philippines' election commission on Monday threw out a petition seeking to bar the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos from running in this year's election, one of several complaints filed in an attempt to derail his presidential bid. The petition had sought to invalidate the candidacy of Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who has emerged as a clear favorite, after accusing him of misrepresenting his eligibility because of a prior tax conviction. But the second division of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) dismissed the complaint, lawyers in the petition said. The lawyers said they will file a motion for reconsideration with COMELEC with a full bench of judges. The election to choose a successor to Rodrigo Duterte, who is barred by the constitution from a second term, takes place on May 9.

Source: The Standard January 17, 2022 10:57 UTC