The country witnessed what seems to be a dramatic teleserye scene as political candidates unveiled their tricks for this year’s election season.
The drastic turn of events has left the public in a whirlwind of emotions, but mostly confused.
“Political analysts and scientists probably can’t [explain these substitutions]; family psychologists will probably do a better job,” political analyst Tony La Vina penned in a Facebook post when asked to explain the candidate substitutions that occurred under Duterte’s camp.
Manila Today recalls the eventful weeks that lead up to this controversial day—the end of candidate substitutions deadline.
October 1, 2021
- Political aspirants gathered at the Sofitel Hotel Plaza in Pasay City for the first day of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) filing.
- First to fill in the position for the presidency was the boxer and senator Manny Pacquiao along with other 96 presidential aspirants.
- Alongside him was Lito Atienza, who will run as the boxer’s vice-president.
- Lyle Fernando Uy, of Lakas CMD, also filed his COC for the vice-presidential post.
October 2, 2021
- Senator Bong Go’s lone candidacy for vice president was the highlight of the second day of COC filing, accompanying him is Pres. Duterte.
- The president announced his withdrawal from the 2022 elections after Sen. Go filed his COC for VP. “Today I announce my retirement from politics,” he said.
- He also told the press that Sara Duterte will run as president with Sen Bong-Go as her VP
- Meanwhile, Sara Duterte filed her COC for reelection as Davao City Mayor.
- The Commissions on Elections (COMELEC) reminded political aspirants of the deadline of candidate substitutions—November 15.
October 3, 2021
- Samira Gutoc and Jinggoy Estrada shared the spotlight on a slow Sunday at the Sofitel Hotel Plaza as they both file for senatorial posts.
- Presidential son Sebastian “Baste” Duterte filed his candidacy as Davao City vice mayor.
October 4, 2021
- Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso formalized his presidential aspiration before the Comelec.
- Dr. Wille Ong, the mayor’s VP tandem, also filed his COC for the second-highest post.
- Former Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sought a return to Congress as she filed her COC for the representative of the second district of Pampanga.
October 6, 2021
- People at the COC filing site were alarmed by a disaster alert beep coming from their phones. The supposed alert for disaster and emergency turns out to be a message to support the son of the dictator, Bongbong Marcos Jr. as he filed his COC for the presidential post.
- Another remarkable aspirant that sought the presidential post was the labor rights activist, Leody de Guzman.
- Senate President “Tito” Sotto III filed his candidacy for vice-president.
October 7, 2021
- Vice President Leni Robredo graced the Comelec with a pink ribbon pinned to her blouse. “Lalaban ako; lalaban tayo” she announced before submitting her candidacy for presidential post.
- Antonio Valdez, certified public accountant, filed his COC for president under the Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP)
- Human rights lawyers Neri Colmenares and Chel Diokno are two of the 92 aspirants who filed for senatorial posts.
October 8, 2021
- On the last day of COC filing, several familiar names have made last minute-submissions for the national posts.
- Running for vice-president was Senator Kiko Pangilinan, accompanied by VP Leni Robredo. The two then formally announced their tandem at a press conference.
- President Duterte once again arrived to endorse Salvador Panelo and Robin Padilla for senatorial positions.
- The arrival of Sen. “Bato” Dela Rosa wearing a Hugpong ng Pagbabago green shirt which represents Sara Duterte’s regional party, filed his COC for president as candidate of PDP-Laban.
November 2, 2021
- Human rights groups filed a petition for disqualification against Bongbong Marcos’ before the Comelec due to the candidate’s court conviction.
November 9, 2021
- Sara Duterte withdrew her reelection bid for Davao City mayor.
- Earlier that day, her brother, “Baste” Duterte also withdrew his COC for vice mayor to file a COC substituting Sara Duterte’s candidacy for mayor.
- In a Facebook post, Sara said, “Si VM Baste ang papalit sa akin. Ito lamang po muna. Maraming salamat po.”
November 12, 2021
- Sara Duterte, the previous chairperson of Hugpong ng Pagbabago—a regional party she founded in 2018—joins Lakas-CMD, the same political party former President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo belonged when she became a president.
- “I’d like to tell you that she has joined Lakas-CMD for a possible run in the national arena of Philippine politics,” Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD said in a virtual press conference.
November 13, 2021
- Sara Duterte filed her candidacy for VP, substituting for Lyle-Uy of Lakas-CMD through her lawyer Reynold Munsayac, ending months of speculations on her 2022 election season political plan.
- Antonio Valdes of KDP withdrew his COC for the presidency.
- Bato Dela Rosa withdrew his presidential candidacy, citing PDP Laban party decisions. “Desisyon po ng partido na mag-withdraw ako. Kaya ako nag-withdraw,” he said.
- Substituting him for the presidential post was Sen. Bong Go, who then withdrew his VP candidacy.
- After his previous statement on his retirement from politics, Presidential Communications Sec. Martin Andanar said Pres. Duterte will file his COC for vice president on the day of the deadline, sparking talks of a Duterte-Duterte showdown on the VP post.
November 15, 2021
- The date for a preliminary conference on the petition against Bongbong Marcos’ presidential candidacy was set on November 26, 2021
- Antonio Parlade Jr, former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC spokesman, who is popular for red-tagging several celebrities and personalities, filed candidacy for president, substituting for Antonio Valdes of KDP.
- ● Retired PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar substituted former Partido Para sa Demokratikong Reporma senatorial bet Paolo Capino and joined the Lacson-Sotto tandem.
- Former human rights lawyer and Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque filed his COC for the senatorial post in place of a certain Paolo Mario Martelino of People’s Reform Party (PRP). “Nais ko pong maging ‘action man’ sa Senado,” he told the press.
- Pres. Duterte, through his authorized representative, filed his COC for the senatorial post in substitute to a certain Mona Liza Visorde under Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) party.
