COC filing day 7, local races: Rodrigo Duterte, Pharmally exec Rose Nono Lin
CEBU, Philippines – On the seventh day of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) certificate of candidacy (COC) filing period, Monday, October 7, a Duterte tandem officially launched their bid for the top posts of Davao City, while over in Quezon City, Rose Nono Lin, an executive of controversial pandemic contractor Pharmally, filed her COC as well.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte and his son, incumbent Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, shook bystanders and waved at roaring supporters upon their arrival at the Davao office of the Comelec at around 4 pm.
The 79-year-old patriarch of Davao’s most influential political dynasty formalized his bid for the mayoral seat of his hometown and brought along his son as his running mate. Baste will be vying for vice mayor.
He made his appearance after his allies, members of the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (HTL), filed their COCs on Sunday, October 6. His grandson and namesake, Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II, filed his COC for councilor of the first district of Davao City on October 2.
Rigo’s father, Davao 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte launched his reelection bid on the same day that the former president and his brother Baste filed their COCs.
Pulong’s son, Omar, also joined the fray on the same day, seeking the congressional post of Davao City’s second district. This makes five of the Duterte political dynasty who are expected to run in Davao for the local race in 2025.
Lin files in Quezon
Pharmally executive Rose Nono Lin filed her COC for Quezon City 5th District representative under Reform PH-People’s Party on Monday.
Lin is one of the names that emerged during lawmakers’ investigation of the Pharmally scandal and illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs.
Not only is she an incorporator of Pharmally Biological Incorporated, whose investors have ties to the controversial Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, Lin is also connected to Duterte’s former economic adviser, Michael Yang, through her husband, Allan Lim.
Michael Yang and Allan Lim have been tagged in the drug trade by former cop Eduardo Acierto, who’s now in hiding. Rose Lin is also the registered owner of Xionwei Technology Company, a POGO which operated during the Duterte administration.
At her filing, Lin refused to answer any questions from the media.
Ex-law enforcers cast bids
Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde filed his COC for mayor of Angeles City, Pampanga, together with former councilor Amos Rivera, who is vying for vice mayor.
On April 5, 2018, Rodrigo Duterte named Albayalde, then-Metro Manila police chief, his next PNP chief after Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who was instrumental in the conduct of the bloody war on drugs and is now senator.
Albayalde and Dela Rosa were batchmates at the Philippine Military Academy, belonging to the Sinagtala Class of 1986. Before serving as Metro Manila’s top cop, Albayalde headed the Pampanga Provincial Police Office.
Albayalde is among five people, including Dela Rosa, under the scrutiny of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it continues its probe on the extrajudicial killings that happened under the Duterte administration.
But Albayalde isn’t the only former top law enforcer who is pursuing a mayoral seat.
In Cebu, former Central Visayas regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and ex-Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz filed his COC for the mayoral seat of Cebu City on Monday.
Ruiz and his party, Partido Cebuano, will be going up against longtime parties led by the Garcia and Osmeña clans of Cebu.
His primary platforms center on improving the local law enforcement and public safety of the Queen City of the South, bannering his tagline, “for a better and safer Cebu City.” – Rappler.com