Vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, waves to her supporters during the first day of the campaign period for the 2022 presidential election, at the Philippine Arena, in Bocaue, Bulacan on Feb. 8, 2022. (File photo by LIDA MARIE DAVID / REUTERS)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Saturday said she will not be attending election debates.
In an interview with reporters, Duterte-Carpio said she has already decided to proceed with her campaign without joining debates.
“We already released a statement about the debates. I have already decided that I will do this campaign without joining debates. Iniiwan ko na po ‘yan sa lahat ng ating kababayan ang pagdedesisyon sa pagpili nila sa vice president na ganito po ang aking direksyon sa kampanya,” she said.
(I am leaving to the people their decision on choosing the vice president while I maintain this direction in my campaign.)
Duterte-Carpio made this remark when asked if she already has a final decision on her attendance in the vice presidential debates of the Commission on Elections on March 20.
Asked categorically if she will no longer be attending debates, she said: “Yes, opo.”
“Well, kung magbago man o hindi (if I will change my mind), we will let you know, but as of this very moment that decision is to conduct this campaign without joining debates,” she added.
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