Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno thumbed down the practice of substituting electoral candidates as a political strategy, saying it allows politicians to toy with voters.

“I don’t believe in that, kasi ang tawag mo diyan, tsinutsubibo tayo, fine-ferris wheel, pinapaikot-ikot tayo (because that’s what you call taking us for a ride),” he said on Thursday, October 14, during a Kapihan sa Manila Bay press conference.

“I don’t believe that the people deserve it,” he added.

He acknowledged that the practice is technically legal then said, “I hope someday it will be changed.”

In contrast, the faction of the ruling party PDP-Laban supported by President Rodrigo Duterte, sees substitution as a legitimate political strategy.

Melvin Matibag, an official of that faction, has said a party like PDP-Laban is “entitled to employ its own political strategies,” including the legal substitution of candidates for elections. 

He denied that it is a mockery of elections.

Expert Speaks

[Newsstand] Substitution is deception

Moreno, on Thursday, hit politicians who dilly-dally on deciding on their 2022 electoral plans. He did not mention specific names.

“You have to be decisive, especially in a pandemic situation. You must not run on the basis of going against one person, you must not run simply because you were just anointed,” he said.

“You must run because you decided, and you decided on time,” Moreno added.

Two candidates have admitted being willing to be substituted by their parties should a stronger politician be fielded – PDP-Laban standard-bearer Ronald dela Rosa and Robredo’s running mate Senator Francis Pangilinan.

Must Read

Confessed placeholders not automatically considered nuisance bets – Comelec

Lakas-CMD, a party allied with the administration, also admitted initially that the presidential and vice presidential candidates who registered under them are just placeholders. The party retracted the statement but then said it was open to substitute its candidates with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

The use of substitution became a prominent strategy in 2016 when Rodrigo Duterte, who failed to file a candidacy for president during the appointed week, eventually substituted a PDP-Laban member who had filed precisely to give the Davao City mayor that chance. – Rappler.com