MANILA, Philippines - The presidential bet of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan denied filing a certificate of candidacy (COC) as a substitute for prospective presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
“Walang agreement. Hindi ko nakausap si Mayor Duterte,” PDP-Laban presidential candidate Martin Diño said in an interview with ANC.
Diño, a longtime barangay chair in Quezon City, a chair of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and a party mate of Duterte, clarified that he filed the COC for president as he was chosen by PDP-Laban to become their standard bearer.
“Basta ang alam ko, ang purpose dito napili ako ng partido dahil kailangan mabuhay ang PDP-Laban sa larangan ng eleksyon ngayon,” Diño said.
Diño said he was told about his presidential bid a week before the filing of COC.
Although he said there was no agreement that he will file a COC and will later on be substituted by Duterte, he does not discount the possibility of it if ever the party decides on replacing him and letting Duterte run instead.
Under the law, Duterte may still be allowed to file his COC for president to become a substitute of a party mate until December 10.
“Hindi natin maiaalis 'yung possibility na ‘yun,” Diño said.
“No problem... ang magdedecide naman nito ay iyong aming partido,” he added.
Diño admitted that his late filing of COC was part of a strategy if ever Duterte changes his mind and decides to run. He filed during the last hour of COC filing last Friday while the mayor filed for reelection in Davao City last Thursday.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) closed its gates to filers at exactly 5 p.m. on October 16.
“Ang first and best option naming is Rody Duterte. Actually basta meron kaming time if ever na di siya dumating, ako [ang mag-pafile],” Diño said.
Several supporters awaited Duterte’s decision last Friday. Speculations spread that he will file as a presidential candidate during the last day of COC filing. However, Duterte did not show up at the Comelec and remained firm that he will not run for president.