Comelec studying protocol violations at listup center

GO FOR PRESIDENT President Duterte raises the arm of Sen. Bong Go after his longtime aide files his substitution papers as the presidential candidate of the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan in the 2022 polls. Go and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa (right foreground) withdrew as candidates for vice president and president respectively of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, which no longer has any candidate for those positions. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The spokesperson for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was at a loss to explain why the commission’s COVID-19 protocols were again disregarded for President Rodrigo Duterte and aide, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.

Duterte brought with him a large entourage of officials, security and supporters inside the Comelec main office in Manila on Saturday when Go withdrew as vice presidential aspirant of the administration Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party and substituted as presidential aspirant of a new party, Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan.

The president’s supporters even brought campaign materials for Go inside the Comelec.

Other national aspirants who withdrew their certificates of candidacy (COCs) filed with the Comelec on Oct. 1 to Oct. 8 were restricted to two or three companions.

Their substitutes, who should be their political party mates, have to file their new COCs personally or through a representative.

Shortly before Duterte and his entourage arrived, Sen. Ronaldo dela Rosa was already withdrawing his COC as PDP-Laban presidential aspirant.

The crowding at the Comelec receiving desk was aired live on the commission’s social media page on Saturday.

Asked about the breach of protocol, James Jimenez, spokesperson for the Comelec, said he was not at the Comelec office at the time “so [I] lack information on what transpired.”

“I am currently gathering information to better understand what happened, as well as how and why,” he told reporters on Saturday night.

He acknowledged that members of the media at the Comelec office strictly followed physical distancing, until the crowd around the President prevented the media from covering from a safe distance.

“I can imagine. I thank the media profusely for very scrupulously adhering to distancing requirements. I will do what I can to bring clarity to this situation, as soon as possible,” Jimenez said.

More last-minute withdrawal of COCs and substitutions are expected on the last day, Nov. 15, even from Duterte himself.