Rivals brush off Comelec's junking of Marcos disqualification case

Camps of presidential candidates on Thursday indicated that they were not too concerned with the Commission on Elections' dismissal of the disqualification case filed against former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Attorney Barry Gutierrez, spokesman for Vice President Leni Robredo, said she intended to win Eleksyon 2022 with or without Marcos as a presidential aspirant.

"The disqualification was never a consideration. From the time she announced her candidacy, she always intended to achieve victory in the elections," Gutierrez said.

"And with Tuesday's explosive start to her campaign, it's clear that she's on track to do just that," he added.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno's party Aksyon Demokratiko said the public continues to wait for Marcos' real plans for the country outside of his motherhood statements.

"That's good news for the late dictator's son," Aksyon Demokratiko chairman Ernest Ramel said of the Comelec's decision.

"However, the people continue to await what are his real plans are for the country and for the Filipinos aside from the motherhood statements he delivered in his 15-minute speech during his proclamation rally," he added.

Ramel said Marcos' spokesperson might just run out of excuses for him not to attend any of the presidental debates and fora.

"We see that eventually people will understand that what they need is 'Tunay na Solusyon, Mabilis na Aksyon' amidst these very difficult times," Ramel said.

"Not more of promises of unity when he actually represents discord, promises without any real "pruweba" and motherhood statements," he added.

In a statement on Friday, Senator Manny Pacquiao said they are not surprised with the decision of the Comelec, noting that this will not affect their campaign to the public to vote for  a leader “who will not cheat and steal.”

“We were not surprised with the decision of the COMELEC,” he said.

“This has no effect in our campaign to convince our people that the Philippines needs a leader who will not cheat and steal and one who truly loves our people. Ma-DQ man sya o hindi walang magbabago sa ating plano na ipaglaban ang mga mahihirap (Whether he was disqualified or not, nothing will change in our plan to fight for the poor),” he added. 

Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, reiterated on Friday that he would not comment on the matter.

“‘Di na kami magko-comment du’n. Of course water under the bridge. Even before, ‘yung kaso naka-pending, ‘di kami nagko-comment sa ganon,” the presidential candidate told reporters in Tagum City.

(We don’t issue a comment on that matter. Of course, that is water under the bridge. Even before, when it was still pending, we did not issue a comment.) -with Joviland Rita and Hana Bordey/NB/KBK/VBL, GMA News