‘Unpleasant event’: Sara Duterte outs President Duterte, Bong Go’s 2022 plans

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (Photo by NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Since President Rodrigo Duterte himself has confirmed his vice presidential bid, Davao City mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio challenged Monday her father and Senator Bong Go to “own up publicly” their decision to run as a tandem.

Duterte-Carpio broke her silence saying the President himself “personally confirmed” to her his decision to vie for the second-highest post, with his long-time aide Go as his president.

“The President, very recently, personally confirmed to me that he will run for Vice President and Senator Go as President. It was not a pleasant event,” Duterte-Carpio said in a statement.

She revealed that she recently received two letters with the endorsement of the President that gave her two options for the 2022 national elections.

“I was left with two letters endorsed to me by the President for consideration — one note explained why I should endorse the G0-Duterte tandem, and the other suggested that I take Senator Go as my Vice President,” she said.

Duterte-Carpio then urged her father and Go to “own up publicly their decision to run as a tandem.”

“If they can confirm it privately, then I do not see the reason why they cannot be candid about it to the public. They should simply present to the people what they can offer to our country and how they can help our fellow Filipinos,” Duterte-Carpio said.

“I respectfully advise them to stop talking about me and make me the reason for them running or not running,” she added.

Duterte-Carpio made the remark after the President’s party, PDP-Laban, earlier revealed that Duterte has accepted the nomination for him to run for vice president in the 2022 elections.

But following the announcement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that Duterte would step opt not to run if his daughter would vie for the presidential post.

This appears to not sit well with Duterte-Carpio, who urged the Go-Duterte tandem to own up their decision to run and not drag her in.

“If they can confirm it privately, then I do not see the reason why they cannot be candid about it to the public. They should simply present to the people what they can offer to our country and how they can help our fellow Filipinos,” Duterte-Carpio said.

“I respectfully advise them to stop talking about me and make me the reason for them running or not running,” she added.

EDV