Sara: 'No substitution' in May 2022 elections

 Sara: 'No substitution' in May 2022 elections

Updated at 12.15 am Oct. 10, 2021

THERE will be "no substitution," Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said after she refused to be swayed by her supporters' clamor for her to run for president in the 2022 national elections.

Duterte-Carpio's statement comes as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded political organizations that they only have until November 30 to substitute their official candidates who either withdrew, died or were disqualified.

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Substitution can only be affected if one is a member of a political party or coalition. One may be substituted by a candidate belonging to and nominated by the same political party or coalition.

"No substitution shall be allowed for an independent candidate," Jimenez said.

At stake in the next year's polls are 18,100 positions — one each for president and vice president; senators, 12; party-list groups, 63; members of the House of Representatives, 253; governors, 81,; vice-governors, 81; Sangguniang Panlalawigan, 782; mayors, 1,634; vice mayors, 1,634; and Sangguniang Panlungsod/Bayan, 13,558.

The Comelec en banc issued Resolution 10695, setting the election period from Jan. 9, 2022 to June 8, 2022.

Sara: 'No substitution' in May 2022 elections

Updated at 12.15 am Oct. 10, 2021

THERE will be "no substitution," Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said after she refused to be swayed by her supporters' clamor for her to run for president in the 2022 national elections.

Duterte-Carpio's statement comes as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded political organizations that they only have until November 30 to substitute their official candidates who either withdrew, died or were disqualified.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. on Saturday echoed this statement of Duterte-Carpio as he backed out from his Senate bid in 2022 after the mayor did not submit a certificate of candidacy (CoC) for president at the Sofitel Hotel in Manila on Friday, the deadline for filing.

"That's what I declared," Roque said in a text message, reiterating a pronouncement that he will only run for senator in the event that Duterte-Carpio decides to accept calls for her to join the presidential race.

When asked about his plan in case Duterte-Carpio runs as a substitute candidate, Roque said, "She said there will be no substitution."

Various groups have been prodding Duterte-Carpio to run for president, which the mayor has repeatedly rejected, following her father's bid to seek the vice presidency.

However, in a surprise move on October 2, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would be retiring from politics and Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go would run as vice president instead.

The President also claimed that his daughter would run for president with Go as her running mate.

Duterte-Carpio, however, announced on Friday that she wanted to finish her term as mayor "for the third and last time in my life as a politician" and called on everyone "to work together for an honest, orderly, and credible elections in May 2022."

Instead of Duterte-Carpio, it was Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa who filed his CoC for president under the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Dela Rosa is also a member of the Davao City mayor's Hugpong ng Pagbabago party.

The 43-year-old mayor has led pre-election surveys on presidential contenders.

Substitution deadline

The Comelec issued the reminder for the substitution deadline at the end of the eight-day filing of the CoC and certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA).

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the November 30 deadline was set so that the name of the substitute candidates can still be printed on the official ballot.

The final list of candidates will be out by the middle of December for loading in the printing of ballots in January 2022.

Jimenez said that starting Nov. 30, 2021 until midday of election day on May 9, 2022, the substitution of an official candidate of a political party or coalition, who died or was disqualified by final judgment may still be done, provided that the substitute candidate and the substituted candidate have the same surname.

He said the requirement for the same surname is to ensure that the printing of the ballots would not be affected, meaning that votes for the substituted candidate whose name appears on the ballot will be credited to the name of the substitute candidate.

He clarified though that no person who has withdrawn his candidacy for a position shall be eligible as substitute candidate for any other position.

Substitution can only be affected if one is a member of a political party or coalition. One may be substituted by a candidate belonging to and nominated by the same political party or coalition.

"No substitution shall be allowed for an independent candidate," Jimenez said.

At stake in the next year's polls are 18,100 positions — one each for president and vice president; senators, 12; party-list groups, 63; members of the House of Representatives, 253; governors, 81,; vice-governors, 81; Sangguniang Panlalawigan, 782; mayors, 1,634; vice mayors, 1,634; and Sangguniang Panlungsod/Bayan, 13,558.

The Comelec en banc issued Resolution 10695, setting the election period from Jan. 9, 2022 to June 8, 2022.

A gun ban will be in effect during the five-month election period and any violation would be punishable as provided for in Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Also prohibited are the use of security or bodyguards by candidates unless authorized in writing by the Comelec; organization or maintenance of reaction or strike forces; alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct; transfer or movement of officers and employees in the civil service; and suspension of elective local officials.

The campaign period for candidates in national positions is from Feb. 8, 2022 to May 7, 2022. Candidates in local elective positions will begin only on March 25, 2022 but will also end on May 7, 2022.

Campaigning is prohibited during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, on April 14 and April 15, 2022, respectively.

From April 10, 2022 to May 9, 2022, overseas voters may cast their votes in Philippine embassies, consulates, and other Posts pursuant to the overseas absentee voting system. Campaigning abroad, however, is prohibited during this period.

Local absentee voters are scheduled to vote on April 27, 28 and 29, 2022. The last day to file an application to be a local absentee voter is on March 7, 2022.

A liquor ban is in effect beginning May 8, 2022 until May 9, 2022.

Campaigning is prohibited on the eve of election day until election day itself.

The Comelec also prohibits giving or accepting free transportation, food or drinks or things of value; soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda for or against a candidate or any political party in the polling place or within 30 meters thereof; opening of booths or stalls for the sale of merchandise or refreshments within a 30-meter radius from the polling place; and holding of fairs, cockfights, boxing, horse races or any other similar sports.

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