New spokesman, top aide for Duterte?

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Speculations are rife that a new presidential spokesman and a new special assistant to the President could be appointed in the next 20 days as the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) draws near.

“We will soon find out,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque told a press briefing at Malacañang yesterday afternoon.

The Commission on Elections has set Oct. 1 to 5 as the dates for the filing of COCs for those who will run for the Senate and other national posts next year.

Roque explained that so far, there has been no discussion yet on which offices will be vacant and who will replace these officials once they have filed their COCs.

“There have been no talks yet as to who will take the place of who. No discussion yet,” Roque said.

And when Roque was asked about his plans for the midterm polls in 2019 as he was earlier reported to be running for the Senate, he said that he still has to decide on it.

The law provides that any appointive government official who has filed his COC is deemed resigned from his position.

“In 20 days or so, you will know,” Roque said.

Aside from Roque, also expected to file his COC for a Senate bid is Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go.

However, Go has repeatedly said he leaves it up to President Duterte to decide for him if he should run for the Senate in next year’s polls.

Should Go file his COC for his senatorial bid next year, the President will then also have a new special assistant.

The President likewise earlier said that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III might also run for the Senate in 2019.

But Bello neither confirmed nor denied the President’s statement.

Several other government officials are also said to be running for Senate seats in the May 2019 elections.