Duterte to appear before Comelec tomorrow

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is set tomorrow morning to take his oath before the notary of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) national office in Intramuros to bolster his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president.

His legal counsel, Salvador Medialdea, filed Duterte’s COC for president at the Comelec national office on Nov. 27, shortly after Duterte withdrew his COC for mayor at the Comelec office in Davao City.

His daughter, former Davao mayor Sara Duterte, substituted for him as mayoralty candidate for the city.

Partidong Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) presidential bet Martin Diño withdrew his COC for president to make way for Duterte. But Diño reportedly filed a COC for mayor of Pasay City, not for president.

Broadcaster Ruben Castor filed a petition before the Comelec to declare as null and void the COC for president of Diño.

Castor said Duterte “should not substitute for Diño who filed a COC that is void, legally nonexistent and without legal effect; hence, substitution shall likewise be void.”

The Comelec is reportedly set to tackle the disqualification case against Duterte on Dec. 16.

Meanwhile, a leader of the Liberal Party and chairman of the House appropriations committee has apparently bolted the LP and threw his support behind Duterte’s presidential bid.

Sources said Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab has joined the emerging bloc in the House of Representatives that will support Duterte’s candidacy. Ungab is a stalwart of the LP, which has Manuel Roxas II as its presidential candidate.

Ungab’s decision to support Duterte was also apparently evident in his social media posts. His Facebook account has many posted news items favorable to his fellow Davaoeño.

 The House leader, however, has yet to confirm his defection to the Duterte camp as of press time.

Ungab’s reported defection to Duterte came just days after key Davao politicians announced their support for him.

Earlier, Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, LP’s provincial chief, came out to announce his support for Duterte. His son, Anthony, is the incumbent representative for first district of Davao del Norte and also an LP stalwart. The governor said he expects more Mindanao leaders to support Duterte, a worrisome prospect for LP and Roxas.

Before Del Rosario, the Duterte camp announced that it had secured the support of former Davao del Norte congressman Antonio Floirendo Jr., who was earlier identified with Vice President Jejomar Binay, the opposition’s presidential candidate.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, chairman of the House committee on labor, was the latest House member to express support for Duterte.

Sources from Ungab’s camp said they expect other lawmakers from the region –Reps. Mylene Garcia-Albano of Davao City; Luzviminda Ilagan of Gabriela party-list; Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna party-list; Mariano Piamonte of A-Teacher party-list; and Silvestre Bello III of 1-BAP party-list – to back Duterte in the coming days. – With Paolo Romero