Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced on Tuesday that all three disqualification cases filed against Philippine presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte will be consolidated.
The First Division of Comelec, according to Inquirer, has decided to merge the ongoing petitions against the Davao city mayor since the issues addressed are similar.
“All the petitions will be consolidated because they all have the same issues,” Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said in a statement.
Bautista explained that all three petitions are raising the same issues against Duterte, which cites that he’s not a bona fide candidate since the certificate of candidacy (COC) for president filed by Martin Dino was defective. During that time, it was Duterte who replaced Dino for the presidential bid; therefore making his own COC invalid.
According to GMA News, Bautista said that the panel will look into the petitions collectively. The members of the panel include: Commissioners Christian Robert Lim, Luie Tito Guia and Rowena Guanzon.
Duterte’s camp, meanwhile, said that they would be opposing the poll body’s decision.
Referring to the Castor case, Duterte’s lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre commented: “We will definitely oppose the consolidation of cases, especially with one case already set for decision”.
“It should not be consolidated with the new cases that were filed,” he continued, citing that the consolidation will only set the resolution of the Castor case to be further delayed.
GMA News reported that the cases seeking to disqualify Duterte have been filed by presidential candidate Rizalito David, broadcaster Ruben Castor, and UP Student Council chair John Paulo de las Nieves.
Per CNN, the hearing of the consolidated case was set for Jan. 12.
Mayor Duterte’s presidential campaign is shaping to become one of the most controversial in Philippine history. Known for his gritty political remarks, it’s yet to be determined in May 2016 whether or not his unconventional approach against crimes will make him president.
