Sara Carpio undecided about running for president in 2022

Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio attended Cebu’s 450th Founding Anniversary on Tuesday. INQUIRER/DALE ISRAEL

CEBU CITY –– Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is still undecided as to whether or not she will run for the country’s top post in 2022.

In an interview Tuesday, Carpio said she was still keeping herself busy with running the affairs and projects for Davao City.

Political plans for 2022 elections, she said, were still not discussed.

“I haven’t thought about 2022 yet. My administration is busy to make sure Davao City would experience some gains during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. I don’t want the Dabawenos to be disappointed,” Carpio said.

Carpio attended the 450th Founding Anniversary of Cebu, which gathered all mayors, vice mayors, and councilors of the 52 component towns and cities of Cebu.

She was invited as a guest of honor by Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, whose local political party, One Cebu, is allied with Carpio’s Hugpong Ng Pagbabago.

Carpio will still return to Cebu as both local government units will soon be signing a sisterhood pact between the Cebu Provincial government and the Davao City government.

During her visit to Cebu, Carpio reiterated that she was praying for God’s guidance as to what her decision would be.

Asked whether Pastor Apollo Quiboloy had convinced her to run, Sara said: “No. He just told me to pray because only God can answer that question.”

The Davao City Mayor said she even joked that her decision will be made in 2023 to dispel speculations and questions. But she said people continued to ask her decision.

Carpio arrived at the Cebu Capitol for the traditional flag-raising ceremony for the founding anniversary of the first and oldest province in the country.

She later toured around each of the Agri-fair booths set up by the 52 towns and cities of Cebu at the Capitol grounds. Afterward, she attended the program with dignitaries and top Cebu officials.

During her speech, Carpio said she took the opportunity to be here so she could personally thank the Cebuanos for their support during the last elections. /lzb