DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio appealed to her supporters who are planning to stage a nationwide caravan to forego the event as she reiterated her decision not to run for president in the 2022 elections.
Duterte-Carpio issued a statement on Tuesday evening, November 2, 2021, that she is appealing to the organizers of Sara All Philippines 2022 to forego the planned Cotabato to Manila caravan from November 4 to 15.
"In the times of the Covid 19 pandemic, it is extremely unwise to move around the country. I am urging the organizers and the supporters to translate your expression of support into something productive and relevant to society," the mayor wrote on her official Facebook page.
She urged them to reallocate the budget for their caravan "to buy food to feed the hungry and the poor and to conduct other activities that benefit those who have less in life and the underprivileged."
"Let us not unnecessarily contribute to global warming. Let us save on fuel," Duterte-Carpio said.
The mayor said she "appreciated" the group's initiative.
"Your overwhelming support and trust in me are not being unnoticed. They are deeply appreciated," she said.
She emphasized that the caravan is unnecessary because she already publicly decided as early as September 10 not to run for President.
SunStar Davao is still trying to reach out to the convenors of Sara All for their comments.
Based on their recent Facebook post, they wrote "We want SARA..." sharing a news card of Senator Ronaldo "Bato" dela Rosa waiting for the mayor's decision to run for the presidency.
Run Sara Run, Para sa Bayan 2022 Convenor Alimodin “Wating” Usmam said in a recent report that they are continuously conducting caravans in the country to urge the public to support Duterte-Carpio’s possible presidential bid.
Despite her pronouncement, Usman said they would continue their scheduled caravan from Davao City to Metro Manila on November 10.
He added that the mayor is deemed qualified as a successor to her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, in continuing the projects and legacies.
“Naniniwala tayo na si Mayor Sara ang susunod natin na pangulo sa bansa, kaya magkaisa tayong lahat, paghandaan natin ang mga araw sa isang desisyon na ikasasaya sa buong bansa, malapit na ang Nobyembre 15,” Usman, who is also the chairperson of the Duterte for Federalism Movement, said.
(We believe that Mayor Sara will be the next president of the country. That is why we must unite and prepare for the following days for a decision that would bring joy to the entire country. November 15 is fast approaching.)
Political parties only have until November 15 to replace their candidates for the 2022 polls.
The convenors of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago or HNP Davao de Oro chapter are also still hopeful that Duterte-Carpio, their party chairman, will reconsider running for president in the 2022 polls.
During the mayor's visit in Cebu on October 24, she said that HNP is discussing the possibility of backing the presidential bid of former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.