By Ferdinand Patinio
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his daughter Sara Duterte as well as Senator Christopher “Bong” Go were among the 10 aspirants who filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) as substitutes for national positions in the May 2022 polls.
Based on the data released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, a total of 22 individuals withdrew the COCs they filed during the filing of COC from Oct. 1 to 8.
Duterte decided to file COC to run for senator, replacing replaced Mona Liza Visorde under Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) during the final day of filing of statements of withdrawal and substitution at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila on Monday.
Sara opted to withdraw her COC for third term bid as Davao City mayor and filed another COC for the position of vice president, replacing Lyle Uy under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD).
Go, on the other hand, dropped his vice presidential bid and filed COC for president, replacing Grepor Belgica of PDDS.
Other aspirants for president who filed statements of withdrawal include Anna Capella Velasco of Lakas-CMD and Orlando de Guzman of Partido ng Masang Pilipino.
Aside from Sara, Walden Bello also filed a statement of substitution, replacing vice presidential candidate Raquel Castillo of Partido Lakas ng Masa.
Others who filed their statements of withdrawal for vice president are Bienvenido Lorque of Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino; Joel Sison of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan; and Benedicto Jose of PDDS.
For senator, Antonio Valdez also withdrew and was substituted by Antonio Parlade Jr. under Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino; Manuel de Castro Jr., who was the first to file the statement of withdrawal on October 13, was substituted by Joseph Peter Sison for Aksyon Demokratiko; Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar under Partido para Sa Demokratikong Reporma (PDR) replaced Paolo Redemptus de Andres; Ramon Mitra of Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino replaced Jesus Durian Jr.; People’s Reform Party Herminio Harry Roque Jr. filed COC as substitute of Paolo Mario Martelino; and Joseph Ross Jocson of Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino replacing Loreto Tenolete Jr.
The senatorial aspirants who also withdrew their COCs include Marianito Roque Jr., Christopher Cruz, Ricky Formiento, and Catherine Cruz of Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino; and Darwin Logronio of Philippine Green Republican Party.
In a press briefing on Monday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said those who would like to withdraw may still do so.
“After this day, they can still withdraw. Withdrawal is a matter of right. You can withdraw at any time. The issue is whether you can be replaced or substituted,” he said after the filing of statements of withdrawal and substitution ended at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.
“After this date, you can only be substituted if withdrawal is involuntary, which means death or disqualification. You cannot be substituted if you voluntarily withdrew,” he added.
Jimenez, however, said in case of death or disqualification, the replacement has to have the same surname as the one that is being replaced.
“If you were involuntarily withdrawn, meaning you died or were disqualified, you can be replaced by someone of your last name. No longer necessary to be a partymate or relative, as long as you have the same last name. That's the prevailing rule on substitution now,” he added.
He said the final list of the qualified candidates for next year’s polls is expected to be released next month.
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