Philippine presidential hopeful Duterte formally files papers

Manila: Philippine election authorities have allowed tough-talking and controversial Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to formally file his certificate of candidacy as president in 2016.

The move has attracted support of politicians and could widen Duterte’s current lead among four other rivals in the race.

Supporters celebrated as Duterte formally filed his certificate of candidacy as the presidential candidate of the PDP-Laban, at the Manila office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), on Tuesday. He replaces PDP-Laban’s earlier bet, Martin Diño.

“It is allowed by law,” former Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes said.

However, Comelec lawyer Romulo Macalintal questioned the legal validity of Diño’s substitution.

Last Monday, Comelec threw out petitions to declare Diño a nuisance candidate and upheld him as his party’s original presidential bet — not as mayoral candidate of Metro Manila’s Pasay City, which he wrote in his certificate of candidacy.

In reaction to a possible legal loophole that could ruin his presidential candidacy, Duterte said, “It’s good if I’m eventually disqualified as a (presidential) candidate. That means no job for me. I will not lose sleep and I won’t die if I don’t become the president.”

“I have a nonchalant attitude to the presidency, but God has many ways of doing it — like [showing] your destiny to be there vying for the presidency, That happened to me,” he added.

Meanwhile, Congressman Karlos Nograles said 50 of more than 200 congressmen at the House of Representatives have pledged their support for Duterte, adding they will firm up alliances with PDP-Laban in February 2016, the start of the campaign for next year’s polls.

“Mayor Duterte asked me to talk to allies who accept his style of leadership,” Nograles said, adding alliances could bring about Duterte’s eventual victory.

But local government officials are waiting for Comelec to legally uphold Duterte’s certificate of candidacy before they pledge support for him, explained Nograles.

Reacting to reports that he topped a survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) from November 26 to 28, Duterte said during a party for people with disabilities, “I am humbled by the decision of majority of the people.”

SWS said Duterte received 38 per cent backing for president. Opposition candidates, Vice-President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe, tied at 21 per cent. Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas of the ruling Liberal Party had 21 per cent and opposition Senator Miriam Defensor stood at 4 per cent.

Human Rights Watch has criticised Duterte over his alleged involvement in the creation of the “Davao Death Squad” that allegedly killed 1,000 people in the southern Philippines.