(BusinessWorld) MARTIAL law victims have asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc to reverse a division ruling that allowed the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos to run for president this year.

In separate motions, Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party and the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law said former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr.’s conviction for tax evasion in the 1990s disqualified him from running for public office.

“The respondent’s failure to file his income tax returns was not out of sheer ignorance or innocent neglect,” Akbayan said in a 16-page motion. It added that the crimes involved “moral turpitude.”

The First Division last week junked three consolidated lawsuits seeking to disqualify Mr. Marcos from the presidential race, as it ruled that his failure to file his tax returns in the 1980s did not involve wicked, deviant behavior.

Comelec has six members and one chairman. Its two divisions have three members each. Decisions issued by the two divisions are eventually appealed to the seven-member en banc. The election body only has four members now after its chairman and two members retired this month.

Akbayan said the First Division ruling is void because only two commissioners signed it — Aimee P. Ferolino and Marlon S. Casquejo.