(UPDATE) Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio can file to substitute a candidate for a national position until the Nov. 15 deadline, Comelec said, when asked about her options after dropping her reelection bid.
Duterte-Carpio needs to join the political party of the candidate she will substitute for so that the replacement will be valid, Comelec spokespperson James Jimenez said.
Jimenez said Duterte-Carpio couldn't seek the presidency under her own Hugpong ng Pagbabago because it is a regional party.
"Ang kailangan lamang maging member siya ng political party nung tao na isa-substitute n'ya," Jimenez told GMA News.
She also cannot substitute for an independent candidate, Comelec Director Elaiza Sabile-David said.
"Ang isa pong independent candidate cannot be substituted dahil nga it's understood na wala naman siyang kinabibilangang party dahil ang rule is the substitute must belong to a party and kapartido n'ya ang kandidatong isa-substitute," she said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
Duterte-Carpio, who is among the frontrunners to replace her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, has not revealed her next move.
The standard-bearer of Duterte's PDP-Laban party, Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, earlier said he was open to being substituted by Duterte-Carpio, who has until Nov. 15 to decide.
Some supporters of presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos are calling on her to run as vice president to the only son and nanmesake of the late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos.
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