Retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio has lent his voice to the growing call for Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s disqualification from the 2022 presidential race. In a statement that underscores the gravity of accountability in leadership, Carpio highlights the 1995 conviction of Bongbong Marcos as vice governor and later, governor of Ilocos Norte, for failing to file income tax returns. According to Carpio, it was none other than President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Bongbong’s father, who established this legal precedent when he was at the helm of the country.
For Carpio, the significance of this conviction lies not only in its direct relevance to Bongbong Marcos’ qualifications but also in the broader implications it holds for our nation’s commitment to the rule of law. By underscoring the importance of upholding constitutional accountability, Carpio offers a critical perspective on how we, as a society, must reckon with our past and its continued impact on our present.
The call for Bongbong Marcos’ disqualification has been spearheaded by various civic groups who have brought forward petitions centered around this 1995 conviction. Their efforts, supported by Carpio’s statement, underscore the deep-seated desire for accountability in leadership that pervades Filipino society today.