Duterte supporters gather at Comelec ahead of COC filing

Supporters of presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte massed in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) national office at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila Tuesday morning. ARIES JOSEPH HEGINA/INQUIRER.net

Supporters of presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte massed in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) national office at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila Tuesday morning.

READ: Duterte to formally file COC at Comelec Tuesday

Wearing red and pink shirts, Duterte’s supporters gathered as the feisty local chief executive is set to personally file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president and submit documents which will bolster his bid for the highest office in the country.

The supporters are urging the poll body not to bar Duterte from replacing former Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) standard-bearer Martin Diño who withdrew his candidacy last October 27.

READ: Duterte-Diño case still awaits Comelec ruling

However, Duterte’s supporters are divided as to whom they will support as the mayor’s running mate.

One group is calling for an “AlDUB” pairing, or “Alyansang Duterte-Bongbong” as they vouch for Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as Duterte’s vice president.

The red-shirt group, meanwhile, is pushing for Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Duterte’s vice president. Cayetano has been previously named by the feisty mayor as his running mate.

Duterte is expected to file a new COC at the Comelec’s legal department late Tuesday morning.

He has already filed his COC for president last Nov. 28 with his representative Atty. Salvador Medialdia after he withdrew his COC for reelection as Davao City mayor.

READ: Duterte withdraws COC for Davao City mayor

Before personally filing his COC, he is said to visit the Manila Cathedral.

Duterte drew flak after he cussed at Pope Francis, blaming him for heavy traffic which ensued during his papal visit last January.

READ: Duterte ‘curses’ at Pope Francis, Lacierda fires back

The tough-talking mayor has since apologized and even said that he will donate P1,000 to Caritas Davao for each cuss word he utters.

An estimated 5,000 people are expected to show up at Intramuros to support Duterte’s presidential bid. RAM

Supporters of presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gathered in front of the Commission on Elections head office at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros Tuesday, Dec. 8 to urge Comelec not to bar Duterte’s substitution to former PDP-Laban presidential bet Martin Diño. Photo by Aries Joseph Hegina/INQUIRER.net