PDP-Laban’s prexy bet withdraws candidacy, names Duterte as substitute

MANILA, Philippines – Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan’s (PDP-Laban) standard bearer for president on Thursday officially withdrew his candidacy and named his party mate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte, as substitute.

Martin “Bobot” Diño, a longtime barangay chair in Quezon City, chair of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and the secretary general of PDP-Laban, withdrew from the presidential race after he received a motu propio letter from the legal department of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that he will likely be declared as a nuisance candidate.

Diño submitted his withdrawal from the candidacy two days after PDP-Laban released a resolution on Tuesday that PDP-Laban nominated Duterte as a substitute for Diño.

Reports said Diño opposed the Comelec’s decision to declare him as a nuisance candidate as he is a member of a legitimate political party.

Under the Comelec ruling, any candidate may still be allowed to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president as substitute of a party mate until December 10.

However, Duterte, who filed his COC for local re-election, repeatedly said he has no intentions of running for president.

Reports added that in the event that Duterte will still not file his COC for presidency, PDP-Laban President Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III will replace him as a second substitute.

Diño filed his COC during the last day and hour of the COC filing last October 16 after Duterte released a statement that he has no interest in seeking presidency.

He earlier denied that there was a deal that he only filed COC just to be replaced by Duterte.