Sara Duterte’s decision to run for national post ‘will affect political landscape’ — Cusi

FILE OCTOBER 2, 2021 Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Should Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio now decide to run for a national post, a faction of ruling party PDP-Laban admitted that it will affect the current political landscape.

“PDP-Laban watches with keen interest the developments on Sara Duterte’s decision to withdraw her certificate of candidacy for Davao City Mayor, especially considering the public support she enjoys,” faction president Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a statement on Wednesday.

“In any event, her actions, including any decision to run for a national elective office, will most certainly affect the political landscape,” Cusi added.

The faction’s vice presidential candidate Senator Bong Go earlier tearfully hinted that there could be changes in his 2022 plans, in light of Duterte-Carpio’s moves to withdraw her reelection bid at the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Davao City.

“Alam niyo, magulo ang pulitika. Maraming pangyayari sa mga nakaraang oras na ayaw ko, na mahirap niyong maintindihan. Itong kandidatura ko bilang bise presidente ay maaaring magbago,” Go said in a speech on Tuesday.

(You know, politics is chaotic. There are things that you wouldn’t understand. My candidacy for the vice presidency may change.)

Duterte-Carpio’s withdrawal of her certificate of candidacy for reelection as Davao City mayor left the public pondering on what her final plans will be for 2022.

The daughter of the President Duterte is said to be training her sights on Malacañang, and was touted to be her father’s likely successor considering her high popularity survey ratings.

There were even speculations that PDP-Laban’s current presidential candidate, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is a close ally of the President, is only a placeholder for the Davao City mayor.

Dela Rosa himself admitted that he would prefer if Duterte-Carpio would run for president in his place.

However, running for the presidency is not Duterte-Carpio’s only option.

Speculations of her running as the vice presidential candidate of former dictator’s son and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. were spurred after the two political figures met in Cebu City in late October.

Marcos Jr.’s sister, Senator Imee, even revealed that Duterte-Carpio urged Marcos Jr. to continue his presidential bid as she opted not to seek the position.

EDV