THE speculations of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio's possible bid for a national position in the 2022 elections will be put to rest as the mayor is expected to unveil her political plans over the weekend, an official from the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat (Lakas-CMD) said.
"The position that she will run for will be known most likely within the weekend," Lakas-CMD President and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez told the media in a virtual presser on Friday, November 12.
This comes a day after the Presidential daughter resigned from her political party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) to transfer to Lakas-CMD.
Romualdez declined to give hints on the position she might run for, but he said they will make a formal announcement in the coming days.
Duterte-Carpio took oath as member of the national political party before Lakas-CMD president House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.
Also present during the oath-taking, which happened at the Revilla Farm in Silang, Cavite around 6 p.m. Thursday, was Lakas-CMD chairman Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who was earlier eyed as the party’s standard-bearer.
Romualdez revealed that he only received Duterte-Carpio's acceptance two days before her oath-taking.
The party president said they are "glad and honored" that Duterte-Carpio has accepted its "long-standing" invitation to join their party. He said they have invited her since 2018.
Both HNP and Lakas-CMD had a previous alliance during the 2019 senatorial elections, he said.
The last day of the filing of substitution is on November 15.
Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio, in a statement posted on Friday, urged her supporters and media not to camp out outside the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office.
"Nakikiusap din ako sa mga nasa probinsiya na huwag kayo bumiyahe papunta Manila nandito lang po ako sa Davao City dahil sa sunod-sunod na pag-ulan at pagbaha," the mayor said.
(I am asking those in the province not to travel to Manila because I am already here in Davao City due to the series of heavy rains and flooding.)
She said a spokesperson will be providing an official statement, along with pictures and videos on her possible filing.
The Davao City mayor on Tuesday afternoon, November 9, withdrew her certificate of candidacy for mayor and named her brother, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, as her substitute.