Comelec accepts Duterte's COC

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday announced that it has accepted the certificate of candidacy of Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press briefing, Comelec chairman Andres Bautista said the Comelec's full bench (en banc), voting 6-1, ''resolved to acknowledge and accept the COC for president of Rodrigo Duterte, being a ministerial function of the commission.''

Bautista clarified that the resolution ''is entirely without prejudice to the pending disqualification case'' filed by broadcaster Ruben Castor.

Castor earlier petitioned the Comelec to nullify Diño's COC and render Duterte's substitution for the latter invalid.



Castor argued that Duterte cannot substitute for Diño, PDP-Laban's erstwhile presidential bet, because he wrote in his COC for president that he is running for the position of Pasay City mayor.

The Comelec's first division is set to conduct a hearing on Castor's petition tomorrow, December 18.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Chito Miranda: My integrity cannot be bought

MANILA - ''I'm pretty sure that my opinions aren't worth P2M. But my integrity is intact, and people are aware of that, and that is worth a lot more than 2 million bucks.''

These were the words of Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda after he revealed that he was offered money to endorse a presidential candidate.

On Friday, the 39-year-old Miranda took to Instagram to air his thoughts on the twists and turns that surrounded the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for president for the upcoming 2016 elections.

A total of 130 submitted their COCs for president, which included Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas, and independent candidate Grace Poe.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was urged to run but reiterated that he never had any intentions on becoming president moments before the deadline.



Miranda started his post by admitting that Binay's son-in-law is a good friend of his and that Roxas is a friend of his uncle.

"They both understand, however, that this is not simply about friendship. It is about who I think is most capable of improving the current state of our country," he wrote. "Gusto ko sana si Duterte pero di naman tumakbo."

"Pero honestly, mas trip ko sana si Miriam pero pinag-aaralan ko pa why she chose Bongbong. She must know something that I don't and I'm pretty sure that she's a lot smarter than I am."

"She wouldn't have chosen him if she felt that he wasn't the right choice. I've read about his accomplishments and modernization projects, and I must admit, they are very impressive regardless kung pro or anti-Marcos ako."

"Pero sa ngayon, parang mas trip ko si Cayetano or si Robredo."

"Cayetano seems to know all the right questions to ask whenever may ginigisa sila sa Senate. While si Robredo naman, seems super matino and trustworthy, and sa panahon ngayon, for me, that may be enough."

Miranda concluded: "Anyway, since wala si Duterte, tingin ko it's time for Plan B. Goodluck sa ating lahat! God bless the Philippines."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com