Presidential spokesman Harry Roque is now reaching out to presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who reports said might be gunning to join the presidential race, about his possible candidacy for senator in 2022.
During his virtual press briefing, the Palace official said he has always maintained his stand that he will only run for a national post if Duterte-Carpio will also run as president.
“Kung magbabago isip nya na tatakbo siya, kung tatanggapin niya po ako, eh nais kong tumakbo kasama niya (If she will change her mind about running, if she will accept me, I want to run alongside her),” Roque told reporters on Thursday, Nov. 11.
Duterte-Carpio, who recently withdrew from the mayoralty race in Davao City, will need to substitute a presidential candidate in one of the national parties—either PDP-Laban’s Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa or Lakas-CMD’s placeholder, a certain Anna Capela Velasco.
Roque revealed that he has already spoken with President Duterte about his plans while he wants to set a meeting with Duterte-Carpio this week.
“Si (With) Mayor Sara po, I will reach out to her siguro po maya-maya lang (later) or over the weekend,” he said.
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The presidential daughter is currently in Balesin Island to attend the birthday party of House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, whom she helped elect to the speakership.
Reports said she is set to meet former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to possibly run for president under Lakas-CMD. This has been denied by Arroyo’s camp.
Roque noted that Duterte-Carpio has yet to file a Certificate of Candidacy (COC), further refusing to speak for her since he is not her spokesperson.
“My advice is just for us to wait for Mayor Sara’s final decision,” the spokesman said in Filipino.
READ: Mayor Sara withdraws reelection bid; fuels speculations on possible bid for nat’l post
Roque was supposed to run during the 2019 midterm elections but the President refused to endorse him. He was also expected to file his COC last month but said he wouldn’t do so unless the Davao City mayor runs for president.
On Tuesday, Nov. 9, Duterte-Carpio withdrew her reelection bid for Davao City mayor and nominated her brother, Sebastian Duterte, to take her place. Before that, the younger Duterte also withdrew his reelection bid for vice mayor.
This led to speculations that Duterte-Carpio, who repeatedly said she will not run for president, will seek a national post.
For this to be possible, she has to be a sworn member of a national party she wants to substitute for.