THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte may run for a national post in Eleksyon 2022 but not under her Hugpong ng Pagbabago party.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez explained that while Hugpong is a political party, it is a regional one, hence she cannot run for national level as an independent candidate.

“Political party po ‘yan pero regional. So hindi siya puwedeng tumakbo sa national level except as an independent candidate,” he said.

Mayor Sara, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, filed for reelection last month, but withdrew it on Tuesday. She did not give an explanation but just said her brother Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, incumbent Davao City vice mayor, will substitute for her for the mayoralty bid.

Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte meanwhile withdrew his reelection bid on Tuesday before Sara did, and he nominated Davao City Councilor Melchor Quitain Jr. as his substitute.

Jimenez also said the mayor has to be a member of the same political party of the person she will substitute for, in case she will do so.

“Ang kailangan lamang ay maging member siya ng political party noong taong isa-substitute niya. Ibig sabihin hahalili siya sa ibang tao, kailangan kapartido siya ng taong ‘yon,” he said.

Article IX, Section 77 of Omnibus Election Code provides that: “If after the last day for the filing of certificates of candidacy, an official candidate of a registered or accredited political party dies, withdraws or is disqualified for any cause, only a person belonging to, and certified by, the same political party may file a certificate of candidacy to replace the candidate who died, withdrew or was disqualified.”

However, Jimenez pointed out that if Mayor Sara will indeed substitute for someone who already filed a certificate of candidacy for a national post, she will have to be a member of the same political party on or before Nov. 15.

“Basta on or before November 15, kailangan party member na siya,” he said.

Under the Comelec’s calendar for next year’s elections, substitution for a candidate in a national or local post can be filed from the end of COC filing period until Nov. 15, 2021.

Jimenez said so far nobody has filed a substitution yet for the presidential and vice presidential posts but they are awaiting for that over the next few days.

In another interview, the spokesperson noted that in the history of Philippine elections, substitutions are usually made at the local levels.

“Ngayon sa national levels halos lahat ng posisyon sa national level ay subject to substitution na ngayon, again, medyo kakaiba po ito,” he said.

“Kasi ngayon nga ang nangyayari at whim. Essentially, kung ayaw ng kandidato or gusto niya, meron s’yang hanggang Nov. 15 mag-decide parang again that sort of runs counter to orderly elections,” he added.

Substitutions can also be made beyond Nov. 15, 2021 but only for candidates on the final list who died and were disqualified. Also, these candidates can only be substituted by a person with the same surname until mid-day of the election day or on May 9, 2022.

SARA RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT — SALCEDA

Mayor Sara is running for president in 2022 and will soon make an announcement.

This was disclosed by Albay Representative Joey Salceda, who claimed to be a close ally of Mayor Sara, a day after the presidential daughter withdrew her reelection bid as Mayor of Davao City.

In an interview, Salceda said Mayor Sara is eyeing the presidency while the vice presidency is not an option for her.

“All these political gyrations just shows she’s going toward the presidency,” Salceda said.

The lawmaker added that talks about being a running mate of former Senator Bongbong Marcos remained a speculation.

“I cannot say that but based on our long-running chats, kilometric chats, because I was providing her with so much big data about her prospects, I think basically she will make a good president in the first place,” Salceda added.

Salceda also disclosed that Mayor Sara is most likely running under the Lakas-CMD party, of which the president is Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and chairman emeritus is former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

On Tuesday, Mayor Sara and brother Vice Mayor Baste Duterte both withdrew their certificates of candidacy.

Vice Mayor Baste is now running for Mayor.

Also earlier, Mayor Sara dismissed from work City Information Officer Jefry Tupas because of her involvement in the drug raid in Davao de Oro. With Jester Manalastas