Mayor Sara Duterte: I have no interest in running for Senate

Davao City Mayor Inday Sarah Duterte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / EDWIN BACASMAS

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reiterated on Friday that she had no interest in running for Senate in the May 2019 elections.

“My plan is to run for mayor of Davao City for the 2019 elections,” Mayor Sara told Bohol reporters during the launching of the Alyansang Bol-anon para sa Kausaban (Abaka) in which she was the guest speaker.

She said she felt she was still effective as mayor of Davao City, a good neighbor to other places in the country.

“I feel that Davao City can help other LGUs with all the years of best practices and all the years of good projects that Davao City LGU had produced. We think that and I think  I can help more if I am mayor and ask everybody to come to Davao and look at what the local government has done for  Davao City,” she added.

Mayor Sara told more than 1,000 participants of Abaka that the senate is not for her since she is a silent type.

“Feel nako wala koy buhaton sa Senado,” she said.

Several groups and personalities on Friday launched an alliance against corruption and illegal drugs to support the administration’s so-called war on drugs.

Abaka members seek to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs that convenors say President Duterte’s war on drugs, its all-out approach to armed conflicts and martial law in Mindanao has brought to the country.

Abaka is the umbrella organization of various political personalities and persuasions identified with President Duterte.

Bohol has been ranked fifth in the Philippines and first in Central Visayas in terms of barangay drug affectation percentage

Last month, according to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency provincial officer Nicolas Gomez, around 400 of 1,109  barangays in Bohol have been recommended by the provincial government and the PDEA to be declared drug-free by the multi-agency Regional Oversight Committee.

“This is not for 2019. Abaka will support leaders, who, we believe, can help Bohol,” said Norris Oculam, chairman of Abaka.

“We are not relying on politicians. This is a movement of the people regardless of political affiliations,” he added.

Mayor Sara said since her political “Hugpong ng Pagbabago,” which was recently  approved  by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as a regional political party in Region 11, she sought alliance with other parties and movements such as Abaka in Bohol.

Also present during the launch were Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr., Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Francis Tolentino, presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, PhilHealth board member Celestina Dela Serna, and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.

Local attendance

In Bohol, only Vice Gov. Dionisio Balite,  Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado,  and at least seven mayors–Allen Ray Piezas of Clarin, Norman Palacio of Bilar, Jacinto Naraga of San Isidro, Casey Camacho of Getafe, Danny Guivencan of Dimiao, Jose Nicanor Tocmo of Corella and John Geesnell Yap II of Tagbilaran City, and some councilors and village officials, attended.

Cebu City Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña and former Cebu Rep. Rachel del Mar also attended the activity.

Other politicians and businessmen from Visayas and Mindanao also attended the launching.

Endorsements

Mayor Sara also surprised the audience by formally endorsing Tolentino, Roque and Andanar for the senate in the May 2019 elecions.

Those who were present cheered and reacted positively to Mayor Duterte’s endorsement.

“So, we’ll have to wait and see. But they (Roque, Andanar and Tolentino) are testing the water if okay ba mudagan sila,” Mayor Sara said.

Mayor Sara also endorsed Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Senators JV Ejercito, Sonny Angara and Cynthia Villar for the senate.

Gratitude

Roque thanked the mayor for the endorsement.

“Ako po’y nagagalak and I am humbled by the endorsement of Mayor Sara. Importante po sa akin ang suporta ng paboritong anak ng ating president,” said Roque.

He said he would move forward knowing that God has a plan.

“At ako po’y pinasa-Diyos kung ano ang kinabukasan sa pulitika.  Bahala na ang Panginon but I am very thankful sa endorsement.  Nung ako’y aktibisita  di ko akalain na ako’y magiging member ng  kongreso, nung ako’y nasa kongreso di ko akalain na ako’y maging miyembro ng gabinete. Di ko alam what God has to offer me but thy will be done,” Roque added.