MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division on Tuesday consolidated the disqualification cases filed against presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte.
Comelec Chair Juan Andres “Andy” Bautista said the poll body’s First Division composed of Commissioner Christian Lim as head and Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Luie Guia as members, ruled to combine three petitions since all have similar merits or grounds.
“Pareho-pareho naman ang issues kasi,” Bautista said.
Duterte faces petitions claiming that his party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, has no bona fide presidential candidate to substitute for since its former standard bearer Martin Diño’s certificate of candidacy (COC) for president is invalid.
The consolidated petitions were filed by broadcaster Ruben Castor, University of the Philippines Student Council Chair John Paulo Delas Nieves, and former senatorial candidate Rizalito David.
The Comelec First Division is still hearing the disqualification cases against Duterte even if the Comelec en banc already accepted his COC for president and allowed him to substitute for Diño under PDP-Laban.
The consolidated disqualification cases will be heard by the first division on January 12.
Meanwhile, Duterte’s camp, through his lawyer, Vitaliano Aguirre, said it is against the consolidation of cases, citing that it will only delay the resolution for the Castor case, the first disqualification case filed against Duterte.
“We will definitely oppose the consolidation of the cases, especially with one case already set for decision. It should not be consolidated with the new cases filed,” Aguirre said.
The First Division began the hearing on the Castor case last December.
Duterte filed his COC for president as a substitute for Diño on November 27. The latter withdrew his COC and his petition to withdraw was granted by Comelec.