Salceda: Sara Duterte to announce plans for 2022 before Nov. 15

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio during a public message last Sept. 15. Screengrab from her Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will announce her final political plans for next year before November 15, her close ally Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said Wednesday.

Salceda made the remark after Duterte-Carpio withdrew her reelection bid as Davao City mayor, fueling talks about her seeking a higher position such as a presidency or vice presidency.

“Ang sabi kasi nya, she’s now last minute candidate e. E sabi ko nga baka you might be violating what you said earlier. So definitely hindi ‘yan Monday (November 15),” Salceda said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

(She said she’s now a last-minute candidate. So I said you might be violating what you said earlier so definitely, it’s not Monday.)

“[It’s] earlier than Monday,” he added.

The Commission on Elections has set the November 15 deadline for political parties to replace or make substitutions of their candidates until November 15.

Duterte-Carpio has long been rumored to take on the presidency and has maintained her lead in presidential surveys. But she has repeatedly said in the past that she will not run for president. She even claimed that she wanted to finish her term as Davao City mayor.

Salceda said Duterte-Carpio is eyeing the presidency, adding that a vice-presidential bid is not an option for her.

/MUF