Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio during a public message last Sept. 15. Screengrab from her Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines — In 2018, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in jest that she could run for vice president.
“Ah yes, ma’am. Vice President, joke lang,” Duterte-Carpio told reporters in 2018 during a chance interview when she attended a hearing at the Commission on Elections on the petition filed by Hugpong ng Pagbabago to be recognized as a regional political party in Davao.
READ: Sara Duterte jokes about running for VP
On Tuesday, Duterte-Carpio withdrew her certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor, saying she will be replaced by her brother, incumbent Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who also called off his COC for reelection earlier that day.
Some speculated that Duterte-Carpio will run as vice president of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr..
However, at least two politicians believe that she will only vie for presidency and nothing less.
READ: Sara will likely run for president, no VP option for her — Salceda
READ: Should Sara change her mind, she’ll vie for presidency, not VP — Bato
While the filing of COC is only from October 1 to 8, the substitution deadline is until November 15, a leeway which allows politicians to put a placeholder even after the filing of COCs.
