FILE PHOTO: Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez. INQUIRER.net/Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio cannot run for a national position in the May 2022 elections under her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), according to poll body spokesperson James Jimenez.
Jimenez explained that the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte should join a national political party so she could qualify as a substitute candidate for whoever filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) for a national post.
“Not as HNP, because that is not the political party of the person that she, whoever it is, would be representing,” Jimenez pointed out when asked if Duterte-Carpio could run for president or vice president under HNP. “And why is that? Because HNP is a regional party, which means they are unable to file national candidates.”
“If she is going to substitute, then she will have to join a political party that already has a candidate for whatever position she wants to substitute,” she added.
Duterte-Carpio is the founder and chairperson of HNP.
On Tuesday, Duterte-Carpio withdrew her COC for reelection as mayor of Davao City. This came after her brother Sebastian Duterte pulled out his COC for reelection as vice mayor of their hometown. Duterte-Caprio said her brother will substitute for her and run for mayor.
Jimenez said aspirants should file their COC withdrawal personally, but a representative could file for substitution.
The COC filing ran from October 1-8 but candidate substitution would be permitted until November 15. After which, the Comelec could already finalize the list of candidates for the 2022 elections.
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