President Rodrigo Duterte was caught on tape on Saturday declaring that his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, would run for president alongside his long-time aide Senator Bong Go, who filed his certificate of candidacy for vice president in next year’s elections.
On a report from CNN Philippines, Duterte was approached by broadcast journalist Rey Langit as he passed a small group of supporters outside the Harbor Garden Tent of the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City and asked for a confirmation if it’s clear for Sara-Go tandem. Then responded by President Duterte, “Sara-Go na ito (It will be Sara-Go).”
However, the incumbent president stated that he has no idea when his daughter will file her COC for president.
“Actually, hindi kami nag-usap ng pulitika ever since…I would say for the better,”
President Duterte pointed out.
For various circumstances, President Duterte has always discouraged his daughter from following in his footsteps. Last January, he warned her against running for president, claiming that being president is not a woman’s job.
Despite her father’s declaration that she will run for president, Sara filed her reelection bid for Davao City mayor on Saturday.
“I have been honored with the gift of trust and respect of many of our fellow Filipinos. Thank you to everyone who have expressed their support. Many of you do not know me and yet you carry me over your shoulders,”
on a Facebook post of Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Sara announced earlier this month that she will not run for president after her father accepted the nomination of a PDP-Laban faction as its vice presidential candidate. On the other hand, the Duterte patriarch announced his retirement from politics on Saturday, capping off a day of revelations.
The mayor of Davao City came out on top in the most recent Pulse Asia poll, with 20% of respondents saying they would vote for her as president if elections were held on the day the poll was taken.
COCs can be filed until Oct. 8, but aspirants seeking to replace those who have withdrawn from party tickets can file their COCs until Nov. 15. If the reason is death or incapacity, substitution will be permitted.