DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is running for president in next year’s elections, claims Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda.
Interviewed on ANC’s Headstart, Salceda said he last spoke to Duterte-Carpio an hour “before everything went down.” The Davao Mayor withdrew from the mayoralty race on the same day that her brother, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, withdrew his candidacy for reelection.
“There’s no VP option for her and picking a VP for her is not a problem,” Salceda told ANC’s Headstart.
Salceda said it was a speculation if Duterte-Carpio would be running alongside former senator and presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos. “I’m not sure about that. Definitely that’s a speculation because she’s running for president. All these political gyrations just shows she’s going toward the presidency,” he said.
“I cannot say confirming but based on our long-running chats, kilometric chats–because I provided her with so many big data about her prospects– I think basically she will make a good president in the first place.”
Duterte-Carpio earlier said she wanted to finish her last term as Davao City mayor and called for understanding from her supporters who were urging her to reconsider her decision.
Duterte-Carpio “most likely” will run under Lakas–CMD Partylist, says Salceda.
Duterte-Carpio would also have considered the Marcoses, her close friends, in her decision, Salceda said.
“Bago siya lumabas (Before she announces) definitely she would tell Bongbong she’s running for president so there will be some kind of…They will be considered in that decision of Sara,” he said.
“Possible pa rin yan. Kung si Imee nasunod, Imee wanted Sara to run for president,” he added when asked if Duterte-Carpio would run as vice president of Marcos.
The Commission on Elections, however, earlier said candidates who have filed their certificate of candidacy under a political party cannot transfer to another party to substitute for a candidate after October 8.
