Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has filed for substitution as one of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats' (Lakas-CMD) of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo alleged "placeholders" withdrew her Certificate of Candidacy (COC), formalizing the mayor's vice presidential bid, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Saturday, Nov. 13.
Duterte-Carpio before the filing, has not minced her words in dousing earlier speculations that she will run for national post. These rumors finally ended as she substituted for Lyle Fernando Uy who filed her COC for Vice President on Oct. 8 who was reportedly a "placeholder" for the Davao mayor. They were represented by Atty. Charo Munsayac.
The decision came a day before the deadline of filing for withdrawals and substitution before the Comelec on Nov. 15. After that, only involuntary substitution will be allowed. In Resolution No. 10717, the Comelec said an aspirant from a duly registered political party or coalition, who dies, withdraws, or is disqualified for any cause after the last day for the filing of COCs, may be substituted by an aspirant belonging to, and nominated by, the same political party or coalition.
The poll body said a substitute for an aspirant/candidate, who died or was disqualified by final judgment, may file a COC up to mid-day of Election Day.
Comelec Education and Information Department Director Elaiza Sabile-David has earlier explained that for Duterte-Carpio to be able to substitute for someone, she has to be a party-mate of the one who withdrew his or her filed COC.
According to Sabile-David, it is possible for a person who belongs to a different political party to change their current party affiliation the next day in order to substitute for someone the following day.
"Hindi po problema na ang isang kandidato ay kabilang sa kunyari partido A and then ang gusto niyang isubstitute na kandidato na nag withdraw ay kabilang sa Partido B (It's not a problem if an aspiring candidate will switch from Party A to Party B to substitute a candidate from that party who withdrew their COC)," Sabile-David explained.
"Hindi po yun hadlang para siya po ay mag substitute ang kailangan lang po magkaroon siya ng nomination from partido B para po masubstitute niya yung kandidatong nag-withdraw doon (It's not a hindrance for someone to substitute if they belong to Party A for they just need a nomination from Party B to substitute for the aspiring candidate)," she added.
She further mentioned that as long as there is a nomination from a party and that the person was acknowledged such as Duterte-Carpio as a member of the party, she may substitute for the candidate Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez has also explained that she is qualified to substitute but not under Hugpong ng Pagbabago which is also a political party but regional.
In a series of political moves over the week, Duterte-Carpio first withdrew her candidacy as re-electionist mayor of Davao City, before her resignation from the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a regional political party in Mindanao which she formed in 2018.
On Thursday, Nov. 11, Duterte-Carpio was sworn in as new member of the Lakas-CMD by its president and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez at the Revilla Farm in Silang, Cavite and was witnessed by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. who was hosting the wedding of her daughter at the time.
Sabile-David has reminded that after an aspiring candidate has successfully substituted for someone, it is still not final and that petitions may still be filed against them.