Dissenting Comelec commissioner cites 'misrepresentation' in Duterte's COC

MANILA, Philippines - A Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner on Thursday expressed a dissenting opinion over the commission's decision to accept Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as a substitute candidate for Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan’s former standard bearer Martin Diño.

Voting 6-1, the Comelec en banc allowed Duterte to run for president in the 2016 national elections.

Comelec Commissioner Ma. Rowena Amelia Guanzon, however, voted against allowing Duterte to run for president.

Guanzon cited a pending case against Duterte, where the petitioner claimed that Duterte's certificate of candidacy (COC) for president is void as it contains "untruthful acts or misrepresentation."

The dissenting comment of Comelec @commrguanzon vs the acceptance of Mayor Duterte's substitution. @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/bP7fHQbD43

— sheila crisostomo (@shecrisostomo) December 17, 2015

"There is also the issue regarding his notarized documents, the truth or falsity of which must be determined before his COC is accepted," Guanzon said in her dissenting opinion.

The Comelec en banc decided to accept Duterte's COC for president, citing its ministerial function.

The commission clarified that the decision is "entirely without prejudice" to the pending disqualification case against Duterte.