Duterte, Cayetano confirm tandem in 2016

Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News

Posted at 11/23/15 9:13 PM
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/23/15/duterte-cayetano-confirm-
tandem-in-2016

MANILA - It's final.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed
Monday night that they will run together in 2016.
Duterte and Cayetano made the confirmation in a gathering they attended in Greenhills,
San Juan.
Cayetano, who has filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president, said that
Duterte's entry into the presidential race will be a game-changer.
"Wala s'yang pera, wala s'yang political machinery, but he (Duterte) will change the
game," Cayetano said.
For Duterte, his reason for running was simple. He could not accept the Senate
Electoral Tribunal (SET) ruling on the disqualification case against Senator Grace Poe.
"As a matter of principle di ko matanggap, ayaw ko magkaroon na tao na half-
American," Duterte said.
"If you want an American president go to Grace. If you want a competent person, go to
Mar. If you want a man of integrity, you vote for Binay. If you want brilliance, integrity
and all, vote for Miriam. Ako, isipin nyo na lang sa last week of election," Duterte
added.
Refil, Danica F.
Grade 2 Camia
But Cayetano said Duterte's decision to run was beyond Poe.
"Hindi sya tatakbo para mang-inis lang kay Grace Poe. Tatakbo sya dahil dapat pantay
ang batas sa lahat," Cayetano said.
Duterte said he will meet with his political party, PDP Laban, to formally arrange his
candidacy with Cayetano.
Cayetano said they are expecting a hard and rough campaign now that Duterte has
announced his entry into national politics.
"Limang libong drug lords na panay may pera yan, mga smugglers at iba pa, mag-
aambagan yan huwag lang magkaroon ng Duterte, magbabago mundo nila eh," he
said.

Both Duterte and Cayetano believe there are no legal impediments in the substitution of
candidates to pave the way for Duterte's bid.
"Walang legal issues, we have many lawyers who looked at it. Under the law the
substitution is allowed, valid ang filing ng PDP Laban," Cayetano said.
"I dont know how the lawyers will fix it, but the lawyers were able to sort it out," Duterte
added.

But veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said Duterte's case may be a hard legal
battle to hurdle.
READ: Duterte substitution faces hurdles: lawyer
"It appears that Martin Dio stated in his COC that he was running for Mayor of Pasay
City, then Duterte cannot sub for Dio as candidate for president. Dio's COC appears
to be defective, hence, it cannot be the basis of any substitution because it is as if Dio
never filed such COC," he said.
"Also, Dio was asked by Comelec to show cause why he should not be treated as a
nuisance candidate. If Comelec later determines that Dio is a nuisance candidate for
president, then the more reason that Duterte cannot sub for Dio," Macalintal added.

He explained that when a candidate is declared a nuisance, his COC is denied due
course or canceled, the effect of which is that it is as if no COC was filed.

Macalintal said that if it is true that Duterte is running for president just because Poe
was not disqualified by the SET, then this reason for running may be disappointing to
the electorate, who expected a Duterte running for good governance, and not due to
any emotional feeling over the fate of any presidential aspirant.

"Why should Poe's qualification be the motivating factor for Duterte to run? Why not a
desire to really and fully serve the people?" he asked.

Macalintal believes the issues of citizenship and residency of Poe will reach the
Supreme Court and only time can tell when the High Court could reach a final verdict.
"Baka tapos na ang election, wala pa ring final decision on these issues," Macalintal
said.

Refil, Danica F.
Grade 2 Camia