Info officer says woman in Manila hotel photo not Sara Duterte

FILE Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The woman seen in photos in a hotel in Manila that is circulating in social media is not of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, said one of her staff Friday.

Jef Tupas, the chief of Davao City’s public information office, belied rumors that Duterte-Carpio met with supporters who were pushing her to run for president and file her certificate of candidacy at the nearby Comelec satellite office at another hotel in Pasay City.

“One thing I know for sure, it’s not Mayor Sara,” he told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

He, however, did not provide information where the Davao City mayor is currently.

Reports swirled that Duterte-Carpio would beat the deadline for filing certificates on candidacy (COC) on Friday after a photo surfaced online that she was spotted in a hotel in Manila shaking hands with supporters.

Some groups, even government officials, have been holing up near the area to welcome Duterte-Carpio, despite her repeated pronouncements that she wouldn’t vie for  presidency and has even filed a COC for reelection as Davao mayor for a third and final term.

Earlier on Friday, Duterte-Carpio insisted she is pushing through with her reelection bid, even hinting that she will no longer run for any other post if she finishes her term as Davao mayor.

EDV