MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Many Filipinos are wondering how Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte can still run for Philippine president when the deadline for the filing of candidacy has passed. The answer is in an unspoken law that allows declared candidates belonging to a political party to withdraw and designate a “substitute.”
Martin Diño, the presidential candidate of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) withdrew from the race on Oct. 29 to pave the way for Duterte to run in his stead.
There is one problem, though. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is pursuing cases in which it would declare certain candidates as “nuisance candidates,” and subsequently disqualifying them from the electoral race. Diño is one of those candidates.
So, run if he will, but Duterte will be declared by COMELEC as a nuisance candidate, because a nuisance candidate like Diño can only be replaced by another nuisance candidate.
It’s more fun in the Philippines. Especially in politics!
The Adobo Chronicles 
SUBUKAN LANG…
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Substitution is allowed by law. No less than the former Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes find the filing of candidacy of Mayor Duterte acceptable since Mr. Diño can no longer be considered a nuisance candidate after the withdrawal of candidacy last October 29. Such withdrawal allows Mayor Duterte to substitute Diño who belongs to the same political party PDP-Laban.
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Mockery of the law.
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