Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte (PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Z. Duterte confirmed on Thursday that she is not running for a national position in the next year's elections.
"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," the presidential daughter said in a television interview.
However, Duterte clarified that the confirmation of President Rodrigo Duterte to run for Vice President has not affected her plans as they both agreed that only one from their family will run for a national position.
President Duterte on Wednesday formally accepted his nomination as the official vice presidential candidate of the ruling party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), to ensure the “continuity” of his efforts to bring progress to the country.
"From the last time PRRD and I talked this was their Plan A. The Plan B was for SBG [Senator Christopher Lawrence Go] to run as VP,” she added.
Mayor Sara, however, clarified that her relationship with her father is still the same.
“Our politics do not interfere with our familial relationship. Iba ang trabaho, iba ang pamilya. Walang personalan (Work and family matters are two different things. No personal feelings involved),” Duterte said.
When ask about helping the PDP-Laban the way Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) helped them in 2019, Mayor Sara replied, “No. I will not share my light this time.”
Apart from President Duterte, the PDP-Laban also announced that its official presidential candidate is Senator Go.
The party also named Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade, and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez as its official senatorial candidates.
Its guest senatorial candidates include Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chairperson Greco Belgica, and House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta.
“I think it turned out the way the Cusi Faction wanted it to go down,” Mayor Duterte said, when asked about the convention and presentation of candidates by the PDP-Laban wing headed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
Meanwhile, she also thanked her supporters for their trust and confidence in her.
“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,” Duterte further added.
On the other hand, Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista, chairperson of Ituloy ang Pagbabago Movement 2022 said the election is still far and anything can still happen to change the mayor's decision.
"I always believe in God’s will. What is important is that she has the desire to serve the people and everything will follow. We believe in her leadership and I will always believe in her and I will always be her avid fan no matter what now and forever," Bautista said in a statement. (PNA)
