Nancy Binay on Sara Duterte’s possible presidential run: ‘Why not?’

Senator Nancy Binay. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines— Even Senator Nancy Binay did not rule out the possibility that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio may become the country’s next president.

“Why not? Baka it’s high time na babae  na ulit (Maybe it’s high time we have another female president),” Binay said during the Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday.

The senator cited Duterte-Carpio’s background in politics as one reason why she is qualified to follow the footsteps of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte.

Like Sara, the President was also a long-time mayor of Davao before he assumed the Chief Executive post in 2016.

“Alam naman natin nakailang terms na rin sya (Sara) as mayor. Lahat naman may kalayaang tumakbo sa eleksyon,” Binay said.

(We know she has served several terms as mayor. Everyone is free to join the elections.)

The senator however, said it is still premature to talk about the 2022 presidential elections as she urged everyone to focus on resolving the country’s problems as well as the upcoming midterm polls.

Even after the May 2019 elections, Binay expects that there are wounds that need to be healed first before even thinking of the next elections.

Talks of Sara’s possible presidential run persist as she goes around the country to campaign for the senatorial bets of her regional group, Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

And the presidential daughter herself is not closing the doors on the possibility of running fo president.

‘Yung pagtakbo kasi ng presidente hindi ‘yan overnight na decision,” she said in an interview last February 18.

(Running for president is not an overnight decision.)

“It needs money, machinery at pinaka importante sa lahat yung wisdom at guidance ng Panginoon. Siguro gawa nalang tayo ng deadline, January of 2021,”  Sara added.

(It needs money and machinery, but the most important thing is wisdom and guidance from the Lord. Maybe, let’s just set a deadline, January 2021.) /jpv

READ: Sara Duterte to decide on presidential bid by 2021