PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is not running against his daughter, vice presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, as he joined the senatorial race for next year’s elections.
Duterte’s certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator was filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila by his lawyer, Melchor Aranas, before 5 p.m. Monday, November 15, the last day of filing for substitution.
The President substituted for Mona Liza Visorde, who withdrew her COC around 4:30 p.m. Monday, under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) party.
Duterte’s senatorial bid was earlier confirmed by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who told PTV in an interview that he also does not want the President to run against his daughter.
“Ayaw ko din (vice president) ang i-file nya. Ayaw ko magkasakitan pa. Tama na ako ang nasaktan. Mataas respeto ko kay Pangulo at pamilya,” said Go.
Lawyer Harry Roque, who earlier stepped down from his post as presidential spokesperson as he filed his COC for senator, also said earlier that the President and Duterte-Carpio will not run for the same post.
“Nagmamahalan po ang mag-amang Rodrigo Roa Duterte at Mayor Inday Sara. Hinding-hindi po sila magbabanggaan. Hinding-hindi po sila maglalabanan sa kahit anong posisyon,” Roque said.
(President Rodrigo Duterte and Mayor Inday Sara love each other. They will not run against each other.)
Last Saturday, November 13, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said that Duterte will file his COC for vice president after learning that Duterte-Carpio filed her bid for the second highest post of the land.
Roque said Monday morning that the President was not consulted by Duterte-Carpio about her decision to run for vice president under Lakas-CMD.
READ:
Sara Duterte-Carpio files bid for VP
Sara Duterte-Carpio joins Lakas-CMD
On October 2, Duterte announced that he is retiring from politics after nearly four decades.
It was not yet clear Monday what changed his decision. (SunStar Philippines)