PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, after withdrawing his planned candidacy for vice president, said the tandem of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Duterte-Carpio and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go will surely be a “go.”
“Sara-Go na ito (It’s a Sara-Go tandem),” Duterte said in an ambush interview uploaded by veteran journalist Rey Langit on his social media account.
The President made his statement after assisting Go in the filing of his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Saturday afternoon, October 2.
In a surprising turn of events, Go filed for vice president while Duterte announced his retirement from politics after nearly four decades.
“In obedience to the will of the people, who, after all, placed me in the presidency many years ago, I now say, sa mga kababayan ko, sundin ko ang gusto ninyo. (to my fellow Filipinos, I will abide by your will.) And today, I announce my retirement from politics,” Duterte said during Day 2 of the filing of COC at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City.
The President is uncertain when the Presidential daughter will file her COC.
Duterte, however, denied that he gave his daughter the blessing to run for the highest position.
“Ever since, we never talked about politics. I would say that I did that (withdrawal of my vice presidential bid) for the better,” he said.
Duterte-Carpio filed her COC as reelectionist for the same position around 4 p.m., an hour after Duterte made his pronouncement.
The mayor had repeatedly said that she won’t be running for president following her father’s decision to run for the second-highest national post.
Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who filed his certificate of candidacy on Sunday morning, October 3, said in an ambush interview that it is unlikely that his sister will change her mind.
“As far as I know my sister, once na pag may sinabi siya, hindi na siya bumabalik kung ano ang sinasabi niya. Alam niyo na, hindi niya binabago (once she says something, she won’t retract it. She won’t change her mind.) That’s what I expect from her,” Sebastian said.
The vice mayor also respects her decision, especially on her political plans.
“Kung ano yung gusto ng kapatid ko, do not look at her as a politician, but a government worker. Well, siyempre, iniintindi ko kung saan siya comfortable, saan gusto niya, saan siya masaya. Kung masaya siya for reelection as city mayor, doon tayo, doon ako,” he said.
(Whatever my sister decides, do not look at her as a politician, but a government worker. Well, of course, I understand wherever she is comfortable and happy with her decisions. If she is happy running as reelectionist for city mayor, I will support her.)
As for his father’s retirement, Sebastian believes that it is “appropriate” considering the former’s age.
SunStar Davao reached out to Liloan, Cebu Mayor Christina Frasco, Duterte-Carpio’s spokesperson, following the President’s announcement, but she has not responded as of Sunday.
Meanwhile, the mayor’s supporters are still prodding her to run.
In a statement from Sara All Philippines 2022, the group said they are still hoping that the Presidential daughter will still file her COC for the presidency.
“The deadline for the filing of COCs will still be on October 8, 2021. We look at this small window of opportunity for our big dreams for the continuity of reforms and good governance for our country,” Sara All said.
The group also said that the mayor could still withdraw her COC as mayor, which happened in 2015 when President Duterte, then Davao City mayor, substituted as presidential candidate. (With reports from SunStar Davao)
