10 aspirants file COC as substitutes for nat’l posts

 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.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1159956

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2 LPAs spotted; ITCZ to bring rain showers across PH

By Ma. Cristina Arayata

Two low pressure area (LPA) were spotted embedded along the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) that is expected to bring rain showers over most parts of the country, the weather bureau said Tuesday.

In its 4 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said one of the LPAs was located inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), about 335 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

"It has a slim chance to develop into a tropical cyclone, as it is considered as a shallow LPA," weather forecaster Benison Estareja said.

The other LPA was last tracked 1,500 km. east of Mindanao, outside PAR.

Estareja said it has a slim chance to develop into a tropical cyclone within 24 hours. It is expected to enter PAR by Wednesday, increasing the chance to develop into a tropical cyclone as it nears the landmass.

"Somewhere along the ITCZ or over the Sulu Sea, an LPA may also develop," he added.

The ITCZ will cause scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Palawan, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The shear line and the northeast monsoon will also bring rains over Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Aurora and Quezon. On the other hand, the northeast monsoon will bring isolated light rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

Moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas will prevail over northern Luzon.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1159865

Duterte names Nograles as acting Palace spokesperson

By Lade Jean Kabagani

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday named Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles as acting presidential spokesperson, replacing Harry Roque who filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator in the 2022 national and local elections.

"So kung maaari ikaw na lang sana ang acting [spokesperson] na muna (if you could be acting spokesperson for a while) until we find a [replacement]. I do not want to burden you with so much, alam ko 'yung paperwork dadaan sayo eh (I know the paperwork pass through you)," Duterte told Nograles during his prerecorded “Talk to the People” aired late Monday night.

Nograles, a lawyer, once served as spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and is currently the head of the Task Force on Zero Hunger, a government’s campaign to fight hunger.

Citing Roque's decision to seek a Senate seat, Duterte said the law stated that any government officials are automatically resigned after filing their COC before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

"Alam mo once you file a certificate of candidacy, automatic iyan – out ka sa gobyerno (You know, you are automatically out of the government once you filed a COC). No order or formal ritual is needed, except that when you file – at that moment you ceased to be a government employee," Duterte said.

Roque bid goodbye as presidential spokesperson and IATF-EID spokesman during his last Palace press briefing on Monday before heading to the Comelec to file his COC on the final day of filing of statements for withdrawal and substitution.

Roque, a former congress representative, is running for senator under the People’s Reform Party, substituting Paolo Mario Martelino.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1159860