Angara: I have no plans to run for VP

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara

MANILA, Philippines— Senator Sonny Angara said he has no plans to run for vice president in next year’s elections.

Angara said this after presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio mentioned his name as one of those being floated by some groups to be her running mate should she decide to run for president in 2022.

Duterte-Carpio has earlier expressed her openness to run for president but has yet to announce her final decision.

Responding to the mayor’s statement, Angara said Thursday: “No plans as busy din kami dito sa trabaho namin sa Senado (as chair of the Senate committee on finance) at sa pagtulong sa paghanap ng mga solusyon dito sa pandemya.)”

(No plans since we are also busy doing our work here in the Senate and in finding solutions to the pandemic)

“We’re honored that some groups are considering us as a possible running mate of Mayor Sara Duterte. We believe in her potentials and promise as a leader on a national stage, as the nation will always need leaders with strong political will and morals,” he said in a statement

“Right now, we are focused on our duties at the Senate, including the preparations for the hearings on the 2022 national budget that are about to begin. Foremost in our mind is how to improve the situation of our kababayans, including our health workers, given the evolving nature of COVID-19,”  Angara added.

In her Facebook post late Wednesday night, Duterte-Carpio also revealed that Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Sherwin Gatchalian had personally offered themselves to be her running mate.

Go and Gatchalian have yet to comment on the mayor’s claim.

/MUF