MANILA, Philippines – Vice presidential candidate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday expressed confidence that his running mate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, will not be disqualified from the 2016 polls.
Cayetano said that if Duterte gets disqualified the mayor will run to the Supreme Court and seek relief and be considered as an official presidential candidate.
”We’re confident that the Comelec will uphold his candidacy, his CoC, and if not, the SC is there,” Cayetano said in a press conference.
Duterte faces several disqualification cases before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) including a petition of broadcaster Ruben Castor.
Castor is questioning the candidacy of Duterte’s partymate and former standard bearer of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, Martin Diño for declaring in his certificate of candidacy (COC) that he is running for Pasay City mayor. Duterte was the substitute for Diño’s presidential candidacy.
Cayetano said that unlike presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe, Duterte’s disqualification cases are not substantial that is why he is confident that his running mate will not be disqualified.
”We’re confident. First of all, Poe’s disqualification cases are very difficult because it’s about citizenship and constitutional requirements. About Mayor Duterte, it’s procedural,” he said.
The senator however admitted that the disqualification cases somehow affect Duterte’s candidacy as some people do not want to support a candidate who will be later on disqualified.
”Many from the local really like Duterte but some of them have been asking when the DQ (disqualification) will be settled because they don’t want to support a candidate who doesn’t have a good chance of winning,” Cayetano said.
Duterte entered the presidential race on November 27 after repeated denials that he is running for president.