Duterte celebrates dismissal of DQ cases

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the dismissal by the Commissions on Election (Comelec) of the consolidated disqualification petitions lodged against him.

"As the mayor has stated in the past, he is confident that his certificate of candidacy was proper, legal and can stand legal scrutiny. We continue to respect the legal processes and call on the Comelec to dismiss with finality all the petitions to disqualify Duterte as candidate for president," a statement sent by Duterte's camp said.

READ: Comelec body junks DQ cases against Duterte

"In the light of this recent development, we call on our supporters to continue to pray and resist and expose vicious black propaganda circulating that Duterte would be disqualified," the statement added.

The Comelec on Wednesday denied all the disqualification cases against Duterte due to lack of merit.

Among the petitions junked by the Comelec are those filed by University of the Philippines Student Council Chair John Paulo delas Nieves, broadcaster Ruben Castor, nuisance candidate Elly Pamatong and former senatorial candidate Rizalito David, who is also petitioner in Sen. Grace Poe's disqualification case,

Nieves earlier questioned the validity of Duterte's substitution for former Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan standard-bearer Martin Diño.

The Comelec said, however, that the petitions which challenged Diño's certificate of candidacy was filed out of time since he was already declared a nuisance candidate and withdrew his candidacy.

The Comelec added that Diño's intent to run for president was clear despite his error.