Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio (left) and President Rodrigo Duterte (right). INQUIRER file photos
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will not fight it out for the same post in the 2022 elections, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday.
Roque filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator after saying that he has tendered his resignation as the President’s mouthpiece, substituting for Paolo Mario Martelino of the People’s Reform Party.
During an interviewed by Comelec media upon filing his COC, Roque was asked if there would really be a contest between his erstwhile principal and his daughter for the same post.
“Ang masasabi ko lang po, nagmamahalan po ang mag-amang Rodrigo Roa Duterte at Mayor Inday Sara. Hinding-hindi po sila magbabanggaan. Hinding-hindi po sila maglalabanan sa kahit anong posisyon,” Roque answered in an ambush interview.
(What I can say is that the father and daughter, Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Mayor Inday Sara, love each other. They will not contend against each other. They will not fight for the same position.)
‘Dramatic’ turn of events
Roque’s remark was fueled by the somewhat dramatic turn of events that took place Saturday when Duterte-Carpio suddenly joined the Lakas-CMD party and filed her COC for vice president, via placeholder Lyle Uy.
A few hours later, she was adopted by the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the party list of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., to be his running mate.
Subsequently, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the official standard bearer of the ruling PDP-Laban party withdrew his candidacy while long-time Duterte aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go stepped in to become presidential candidate under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDDS).
Meanwhile, Duterte, who accompanied Go to Comelec on Saturday, claimed that he too will file his candidacy for vice president, a statement that he has already said in the past.
He said that he may seek the vice presidency to show his dismay to his daughter’s vice presidential bid, questioning why she is only vying for vice president when she is leading in preferred presidential candidates surveys.
Should Duterte pushed through with this plan, this means that he will go head-to-head with his daughter for the second highest elective post.
Still supportive of Duterte
According to Roque, he will also support Duterte in whatever position he will run.
“Nung naghain po tayo ng certificate of candidacy, hindi lang po si Mayor Inday Sara ang sasamahan natin. Sasamahan din po natin si Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa kanyang posisyon na tatakbuhan. Hindi po kami maghihiwalay ng aking presidente,” Roque said.
(When we filed our certificate of candidacy, it is not only Mayor Inday Sara who we will support. We will also support President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in whatever position he is eyeing for. I will not leave my president.)
Roque said that Duterte will formalize his bid through a representative, not disclosing what position it would be.