MANILA, Philippines – Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said he has prepared his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator, but he will only file it if Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio pursues a presidential bid in the 2022 elections.
In a Palace briefing, Roque reiterated his earlier statement that he will only run for senator if Duterte-Carpio will seek the presidency.
He also said that he is praying that Mayor Sara will heed the public’s call for her to join the presidential race.
“Kinakailangan po mayroon tayong isang salita at minsan na po akong nagsabi na tatakbo lang ako kung tatakbo po si Mayor Sara Duterte,” he said.
“Handa po ang aking certificate of candidacy, bukas po ang last day; magbi-vigil po kami dito sa Malacañang kung sakaling maghahain po ng certificate of candidacy si Mayor Sara Duterte for president,” he added.
Mayor Sara on Wednesday stressed that she is not running for president as she appealed for understanding from her supporters who have been pushing for her to seek a national position in the upcoming polls.
Various political groups have expressed their support for the presidential daughter should she decide to join the presidential race.
Duterte-Carpio’s supporters have also conducted various activities to convince her to run for president and file her candidacy before the deadline on Friday, Oct. 8.
She has consistently topped pre-election surveys on presidential preferences who may replace her father, President Rodrigo Duterte when his term ends in June 2022.
Despite all this, she still filed her certificate of candidacy for reelection, saying she wants to finish her last consecutive term as Davao City mayor.
Sara Duterte-Carpio has repeatedly stated that she has no plans to gun for the country’s top post, citing their family’s agreement that only one of them should gun for a national position.
President Duterte previously said he will run as vice president but later withdrew his certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) and instead threw his support for the vice presidential bid of his former longtime aide, Senator Bong Go.
At the same time, he also announced his retirement from politics and mentioned that his daughter Sara will run with Go in 2022 polls.
Mayor Sara did not comment on the president’s statement.
The last day of the filing of COCs is on Friday, October 8.
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