Hontiveros hits substitution ‘publicity stunts’: ‘Why toy with the Filipino people?’

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday hit political maneuverings during the period for the withdrawal and substitution of candidacies under the Omnibus Election Code.

“Ang publicity stunt na mas nakakabulabog ay ang hindi matapos-tapos na pagpapa-ikot sa sambayanan pagdating dito sa simpleng filing of candidacy. Bakit kailangang paglaruan ang mga Pilipino?” Hontiveros said at the Pandesal Forum Monday.

(The publicity stunt that is more disturbing was the never ending issue on the simple filing of certificate of candidacy. Why do they need to toy with the Filipino people?)

“Ang sabi ng iba strategy daw, itinatago daw nila ang kanilang alas hanggang sa huling sandali. Ngunit hindi ito nakakatulong sa ating mga institusyon ang ganitong uring pagpapaasa,” she added.

(Some say this is part of the strategy, and that they are hiding their bet until the end of the substitution period. But this does not help our institutions.)

Hontiveros said it may be “part of the strategy or tying up loose ends of whatever negotiations” among the politicians involved.

While Hontiveros did not name names, a number of substitutions were made by big political names over the weekend, including Senator Bong Go’s filing of certificate of candidacy for president after he withdrew his vice presidential bid. 

Also on Saturday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would run for vice president moments after his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, filed her own substitute certificate of candidacy for vice president. 

On Monday, however, Duterte filed to run for senator as a substitute for a candidate of the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS). — BM, GMA News