Why did PDP-Laban petition for Comelec to reopen the filing of COCs?

On December 31, PDP-Laban, headed by Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, a known ally of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, filed a petition to Comelec to reopen the filing of COCs. PDP-Laban argued that the initial October 1 to 8 period of filing for a certificate of candidacy was “unreasonable, unnecessary, and impossible.”

What did the petition say?

The petition also called for Comelec to not proceed with the printing of ballots citing that political candidates still have ongoing petitions against them and that the list of official partylistsisn’t yet final.

It also cited laws such as the Batas PambansaBlg. 881 and RA 7166 which would have allowed candidates to file their COCs up until the day prior to the official campaign period.

According to the petition, if laws such as the one above, prior to the amended automated election law were applied for this filing period, it would have made the earliest deadline of filing of COCs on January 9, 2022, and as late as February 7 and March 24 for the national and local level respectively, which are the days before the start of the official campaign period.

Why does PDP-Laban want a reopening of COC filing?

PDP-Laban had since mentioned that the “political vacuum” caused their candidates to withdraw their candidacies.

To recap, originally, it was Senator BatoDela Rosa who was fielded by PDP-Laban to be the party’s standard-bearer with Bong Go as the vice president.

Before the period of substitutions was over, Dela Rosa withdrew his presidential bid with Go upgrading towards the presidency. During such time, Duterte also filed to be a senator.

However, Go and Duterte have since withdrawn their COCs, leaving PDP-Laban, the ruling political party, with no standard-bearer and no candidate to continue their goals.

From this, it is clear that PDP-Laban wants Comelec to reopen the filing for COCs so that there can be a candidate who will represent the party in the two highest positions of the land.

It is unclear whether Go has changed his mind and is willing to run for the presidency after all, or that PDP-Laban has fielded other identities for the positions.

Comelec has since rejected the petition.