By Addison Pascua

PHOTO: Davao City LGU

At least a month before the filing of certificates of candidacy, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has backtracked her decision to run for president in 2022 elections after her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, officially accepted his nomination as vice president of the ruling party PDP-Laban.

When asked by ABS-CBN news for a reaction on her father’s vice presidential bid, Duterte-Carpio emphasized an agreement in their family that only one of them can run for a national position in 2022.

“Yes, I am not running for a national position as we both agreed only one of us will run for a national position in 2022,” she said, maintaining that her father’s plans won’t affect any of hers.

The local chief executive, nonetheless, assured that her relationship with her father is “the same as it was before.”

“The same as it was before. Our politics do not interfere with our familial relationship. Iba ang trabaho, iba ang pamilya. Walang personalan,” Duterte-Carpio said.



Duterte-Carpio, who continues to emerge as the top presidential bet in recent pre-election surveys, also thanked her supporters for their continued “trust and confidence.”

“Yes, I am happy we are united in our desire to see a better Philippines in the future. I will be eternally thankful for your trust and confidence,” she expressed.

To recall, at least 7 parties conveyed their support for Duterte-Carpio should she run for President in next year’s polls including President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Lakas CMD, former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, the late Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago’s Peoples Reform Party, the National Unity Party, Sen. Sonny Angara’s Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, and Mayor Duterte-Carpio’s regional party the Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

Duterte-Carpio, who is still eligible for one more term as Davao City Mayor in 2022, is currently not a member of any national party making her unqualified to substitute a candidate.

Duterte-Carpio has likewise assured that she will not end up repeating her father’s tactic in 2015 when he consistently refused to run for president but only to substitute party-mate Martin Dino at the last minute.

The Commission on Elections will start accepting certificates of candidacy for all local and national positions on Oct 1-8. The last day of substitution of candidates, on the other hand, is Nov. 15.


Report source: ABS-CBN News