Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque says he holds no hard feelings toward Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for choosing not to run for the presidency in the May 2022 elections.
In a virtual press briefing Monday, Oct. 11, Roque bared that he knew in advance that Duterte-Carpio would vie for a third term as Davao mayor in next year's polls and not the Palace seat.
"Sinabi talaga sa akin ni Mayor Sara noong ako'y nakipag-usap sa kanya na mayor ang kanyang takbo (Mayor Sara told me when I spoke with her that she would run for mayor). That was when my heart was broken dahil (because) I wanted her to run for president," he said.
Roque is widely known to have aspirations of becoming a senator. However, he earlier said that he would only run for a Senate seat if the presidential daughter joins the Palace race.
The filing for certificates of candidacy (COC) of the 2022 poll aspirants ended on Oct. 8. On the same day, Roque confirmed he would no longer run for senator.
"So sa akin po, alam ko na po ang desisyon (For me, I already know my decision). I was still praying and hoping na magbabago pero wala pong dahilan para sumama ang aking loob (that it would change but it's no reason for me to get mad)," the spokesperson said.
Referring to Duterte-Carpio, he said: "Hindi sumama ang loob ko. Bakit po? Pero syempre umaasa tayo na baka magbago ang isip, pero hindi na nagbago (I didn't get angry. Why? Of course I was hoping that she would change her mind, but she didn't).
"Wala pong samaan ng loob. Talagang desisyon naman po yan ng kandidato (No reason for anger. That's really the decision of the candidate)."
Duterte-Carpio can still become a presidential bet if she decides to substitute a candidate who filed his or her COC. But this scenario was already shot down by the lady official.
Roque says the only thing left to do is to determine what to do with Duterte-Carpio's supporters who, like him, hoped that the mayor would launch a presidential campaign.
On Oct. 9, Duterte-Carpio was reported to have contracted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
"Ang mensahe po natin kay Mayor Sara at ang kanyang pamilya (Our message to Mayor Sara and her family), please keep safe and get well soon," the Palace mouthpiece said.