Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio has not yet reached a decision about a potential presidential run in the 2022 elections, Malacañang clarified Thursday.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, many people have rallied behind President Duterte's daughter but the mayor has not yet made an announcement about her political plans next year.
Roque issued the clarification after a lawmaker claimed Mayor Duterte would likely join the presidential race next year based on their recent exchange.
"Ang alam ko ay wala pa pong desisyon ang ating Davao City mayor. Wala pa rin pronouncement na siya po ay tatakbo bilang pangulo bagamat marami po ang nagnanais na siya nga po ay tumakbo (As far as I know, our Davao City Mayor has no decision yet. There is still no pronouncement that she will run for president although many would want her to run)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Thursday, June 3.
Roque noted that the President has already discouraged his daughter from running for president since it was a thankless job. Duterte previously said the presidency was no job for a woman due to the emotional differences with men.
Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda earlier bared that he was convinced about Mayor Duterte's possible presidential bid next year. He added that the mayor was supposedly moving to build alliances ahead of the polls.
The Davao mayor previously shunned calls from supporters to seek the presidency in next year's elections. She said she was grateful for the trust and confidence but asked her supporters to wait for her presidential bid in 2034. The President's daughter is currently the chairperson of the political coalition Hugpong ng Pagbabago.