THE Commission on Elections on Monday dismissed one of four disqualification cases filed against Davao City Mayor and presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte.
The Comelec’s First Divison dumped the petition of University of the Philippines-University Student Council chairman John Paulo delas Nieves after he and his lawyer failed to attend the preliminary conference on the case.
Nieves had wanted Duterte disqualified to run for president in this year’s elections.
He had questioned Duterte’s substitution for PDP-Laban standard bearer Martin Diño, saying Diño’s Certificate of Candidacy was defective as he had indicated he was running for mayor of Pasay City and not for president.
Duterte’s camp and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, a senatorial candidate, hailed the Comelec’s decision.
Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, a Duterte ally, said they were relieved to know that the Comelec was applying the rule of law correctly, and that they hoped the Commissioners will maintain their stand when deciding the other disqualification cases.
“We hope that everyone can keep calm, cool and collected in the remaining months to come going towards Election Day, confident that Comelec as an institution will defend democracy and the voice of our people,” Nograles said in a statement.
Said Romualdez: “This is a very compassionate decision of the Comelec upholding the rule of law by allowing the people’s will to decide on the offer of Mayor Duterte to become the country’s next president.”
Romualdez said he hoped the poll body would also dismiss the two other disqualification cases against Duterte, who is running with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
“We thank and commend the Comelec First Division for this fair and constitutional ruling that would help maintain the faith of Filipinos to our electoral process,” Romualdez said. with PNA