Go-Sara faceoff in 2022 presidential derby will never happen, says Roque

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The likelihood that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and Senator Bong Go will go against each other in the 2022 presidential race is zero, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Wednesday.

“It will not happen. it will never happen,” he said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel when asked who he will support if both Go and Duterte-Carpio run for president in the 2022 elections.

Roque said he will support Duterte-Carpio should she decide to run, even saying that he will also run in the 2022 polls if the presidential daughter seeks the presidency.

However, President Rodrigo Duterte has insisted that his daughter should not run for presidency.

If Duterte-Carpio will not run for president, Roque said he will instead support the Go-Duterte tandem wherein President Duterte will run as Go’s vice president.

Duterte has yet to decide whether he will run for vice president in the 2022 elections, but his political party has urged him to do so.

Roque said that if Duterte runs for vice president, “it’s a certainty that Senator Bong Go will run for President.”

“Of course if this happens, I will be supportive of Bong Go and Duterte candidacy,” he said.

The President earlier admitted he is reluctant to run as vice president in the 2022 national elections, saying he is now ready to retire.

JPV