THE tandem of Senators Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa and Christopher 'Bong' Go, presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban (Cusi wing), cannot be substituted if the party loses its petition before the Commission on (Comelec) seeking the disqualification of the Pacquiao wing of the PDP-Laban.

Veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said on Thursday that the same would be true for candidates of the Pacquiao wing, adding that candidates of the losing party wing would be declared as 'independent' candidates.