Harry Roque suggested shortening the period between the end of COC filing and the start of the campaign period.
HARRY ROQUE — The Presidential spokesperson suggested cutting short the period between the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) and the start of the election campaign period if people really wanted to do away with the substitution of political candidates.
On Monday, the Palace spokesman gave an alternative after he was asked if he supported the calls to abolish the substitution system in the Philippines.
“Wala po akong nakikitang dahilan kung bakit napakatagal naman yung last day of filing at tsaka yung start ng election period. Dapat po siguro paikliin ang period na ‘yan if we are to do away with the substitution,” Roque said in his last Presidential press briefing.
The Palace spokesman also suggested moving the last day of the COC filing to November instead of October in the future elections.
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Despite this, he didn’t think that the substitution system was being abused nor was there anything wrong with it.
“Nasa batas po ‘yan. Legal po ‘yan. So ‘pag legal po, walang pag-abuso,” Roque said.
Roque’s statement came following calls to abolish the substitution system as it was being abused by “indecisive” political candidates.
The substitution system also recently became controversial as many political candidates opted to back out and have substitutes — including Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte who will now run for vice president under Lakas-CMD, Senator Bong Go who will run for president under PDDS, and Roque himself who will run for senator in the 2022 elections under PRP.
Meanwhile, the Palace spokesman said that President Duterte and Mayor Sara remained in a loving relationship. According to him, Mayor Sara was still the favorite child of the President.
“Wala naman pong problema sa samahan ng mag-ama. Ang sinabi lang ni Preisdente, hindi nagkonsulta si Mayor Sara sa kanyang mga political plans,” Roque said. “Medyo siyempre nagtatampo kasi hindi nga siya nakonsulta, pero alam niyo po si Mayor Sara paboritong-paboritong anak po ‘yan ng ating Presidente.“
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