Philippine poll panel trashes petition against Rodrigo Duterte

Manila: A petition to disqualify of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte from the Philippine presidential elections has been rejected by the Commission on Elections.

The disqualification request was dismissed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) first division, after the proponent, John Paulo delas Nieves, chair of the University of the Philippines Student Council, failed to appear before the poll body to provide his arguments on the petition.

Abigail Lilagan, clerk of the Comelec, was quoted in reports as saying Nieves was supposed to appear before the poll body at 10am on Monday, but failed to show up, prompting the Comelec to dismiss the appeal.

The petition to scrap the candidacy was one among three filed before the Comelec.

The other appeals for Duterte’s disqualification were submitted by private citizen Rizalito David, and radio commentator Ruben Castor.

In the petition that he filed in December, Delas Nieves argued Duterte cannot replace a partymate, Martin Dino, in the slot for presidential candidate, because the latter’s certificate of candidacy was defective from the start. Aside from this, he accused the outspoken Davao City mayor of committing human rights violations.

On October 29, 2015, Duterte’s party, the Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas-People’s Struggle (PDP-Laban) announced that the incumbent Davao City mayor would be replacing Dino as its presidential candidate. The development confirmed speculation Duterte had been gunning for the presidency all along.

Reacting to news that Delas Nieves’ petition against Duterte’s candidacy had been rejected, Representative Karlo Nograles of Davao City said they are “very happy” with the Comelec decision.

“We are relieved to know that Comelec is applying the rule of law correctly, and we hope that the commissioners will maintain their stand with the other disqualification cases still pending in their office,” Nograles said.

Nograles is son of Duterte’s political rival, former House Speaker Prospero Nograles.

The young Nograles said the Comelec decision also comes as a welcome relief, given the damaging remarks, potshots and mudslinging being hurled against the commissioners and against their institution by some quarters.

The Philippines will hold its general elections on May 9, 2016.

Earlier in December, Senate President Franklin Drilon called on the Comelec to settle the issue concerning the disqualification appeals lodged against Duterte and Poe.

Poe’s candidacy has been questioned before the Supreme Court because amid claims she does not satisfy the constitutional requirement on being a natural-born Filipino citizen and having been resident in the country for more than 10 years.