Will She Run For President Or VP? Sara Withdraws COC For Davao Mayor

Will she finally run for president?

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio withdrew her reelection bid on Tuesday, Nov. 9, spawning speculations that she is running for president after all.

“I’m now withdrawing my candidacy for mayor of Davao City. VM Baste will take my place,” President Duterte’s daughter said, referring to her younger brother Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte.

Sebastian, for his part, also withdrew his reelection bid on Tuesday to take the place of his sister.

Duterte-Carpio issued the statement before proceeding to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Davao City to withdraw her certificate of candidacy. She did not reveal her next move after deciding to withdraw from the mayoralty race.

She filed her reelection bid last Oct. 2 and has repeatedly said she is not pursuing any national post in the 2022 polls.

Melchor Quitain Jr. will be Sebastian’s substitute for the position of vice mayor.

“I am deeply grateful to the Dabawenyos for the support they have given me all this time. I have no other details to share at the moment. Thank you,” Sebastian said in a separate statement.

Duterte-Carpio heads the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) regional party.

A national party allied with the administration is expected to adopt her as its presidential bet.

The PDP-Laban led by her father, President Duterte, has Sen. Ronald dela Rosa as standard-bearer and Sen. Bong Go as his running mate.

A faction of the ruling party led by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III has anointed Sen. Manny Pacquiao as standard-bearer.

At least five national parties earlier signified intention for a coalition to support Duterte-Carpio’s bid should she run for president.

Bongbong-Sara or Sara-Bongbong tandem?

Lawyer Bruce Rivera said on Tuesday that Duterte-Carpio is likely to run for vice president in the May 2022 elections.

Quoting reliable sources, Rivera noted Duterte-Carpio’s decision to withdraw her reelection bid “is something very substantial.”

“I think she is a little bit open to the vice presidency if I’m not mistaken,” Rivera told “One News Now.”

“Mayor Sara has always been very clear about saying that she is not running for the presidency,” Rivera said.

However, analysts have said that there was no doubt Duterte-Carpio would run for president as this would be the most logical thing to do for the administration if it wants to win. Duterte-Carpio is leading the pre-election surveys for president.

Rivera disclosed that Duterte-Carpio may either run under Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD, the party of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, or she will be an independent candidate running for vice president in tandem with former senator and presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Lakas-CMD has perceived placeholders for president and vice president, respectively. Dela Rosa said he is also willing to be replaced by Duterte-Carpio as PDP-Laban standard-bearer but Rivera noted that the mayor is not keen to work with the ruling party.

It’s not immediately clear who among those who filed their COCs for vice president as independents can be replaced by Duterte-Carpio or by Marcos should he be the one to decide to slide down for the mayor.

“With PDP-Laban out of the way, there are quite possible number of options,” Rivera said.

Rivera revealed a survey conducted by the camp of Marcos that showed his tandem with Duterte-Carpio would get a “substantial number of votes” and that their team-up is “doable and winnable.”

Earlier, Marcos said he wanted the President to be his running mate but the Chief Executive decided to retire from politics.

“So the two of them [are] a team to beat if they decide to run together. For some, this is quite daunting or worrisome but for us supporters, it is a happy news,” he said.

Not scripted

In a separate interview with “Sa Totoo Lang” on One News on Tuesday, Rivera said Duterte-Carpio’s withdrawal from the mayoral race is not scripted.

“Everybody thinks this is a drama. Everybody thinks na para ‘tong scripted. But you know, who wants to be in a script like this? Wala,” Rivera said.

Rivera also said Duterte-Carpio is soul-searching and looking into the pros and cons of running for a national position.

“At this point in time, all signs are pointing towards something substantial and something historic. Kumbaga, sabi ko nga eh, this becomes apparition, this will be the start of ‘di ko sinasabing six years but 12 years of Inday Sara,” he said.

Unfolding game plan

Jorge Tigno, professor at the Department of Political Science in the University of the Philippines, expressed belief that Duterte-Carpio’s move is “anyone’s guess.”

“We may be seeing the unfolding of a game plan that is similar to what happened in 2016,” Tigno told “The Big Story” on One News also on Tuesday.

“Withdrawal is a candidate’s choice. It’s a candidate’s free choice. Just as voters are free to change their minds, candidates also enjoy the same freedom,” he explained.

According to Tigno, Duterte-Carpio could certainly run for any position at this point, except for mayor.

“She has already withdrawn from that position (mayor). And it can be a local or a national position,” he said.

Tigno pointed out that both the presidential and vice presidential races are now very crowded, but given her popularity, Tigno said Duterte-Carpio has nothing to worry about her candidacy and campaign resources.

Professor Dindo Manhit, also a political analyst, told “‘Wag Po!” on One PH said the administration was possibly surprised with the results of pre-election surveys in September, the reason why it decided to have a reassessment.

Manhit said a Duterte candidate could be expected, though it could not be ascertained whether for president or vice president.

Manhit expressed belief that those who gained momentum in their campaigns, such as presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, could be affected by the latest development.