Sara: Duterte-Duterte In 2022 Will Never Happen; Rody Endorses Martin Romualdez For VP

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has again doused speculation that she will run in tandem with her father, President Duterte, should she decide to run for the country’s top post in the May 9, 2022 general elections.

“It will never happen that there will be a Duterte-Duterte tandem, and then sinabi naman ni PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) kung ano ‘yong reasons niya why ayaw niya akong tumakbo,” Duterte-Carpio said in an interview with broadcast journalist RG Cruz over Twitter Tuesday night, June 15, referring to reasons why her father does not want her to run for president.

She also said her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) gave her until July 30 to decide on their members’ appeal for her to reconsider an earlier decision not to run for the country’s highest office.

“Nag-decide na ako noong January when I was asked to decide. And then April and then July, I was given by HNP governors to decide until July 30. Pinag-iisipan, kasi a lot of people are asking me to reconsider my decision not to run for president,” she explained.

“Walang script. Ngayon is pinag-iisipan nang maigi ang decision dahil hindi siya madaling trabaho na gawin,” the mayor said.

Read more: Sara: No Duterte-Duterte Tandem In 2022; GiboWants To Be Her Running Mate

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) earlier asked the President to run for vice president in tandem with his daughter Sara in next year’s polls.

Although he thinks running as vice president next year is a good idea, the President indicated on Wednesday, June 16, that the decision is anchored on whether or not House majority leader and Leyte 1st district Rep. Alfred Romualdez runs for the second highest post.

“‘Pag tumakbo si Romualdez, wala ako. ‘Pag hindi tumakbo si Romualdez, wala din ako siguro,” he said, adding it’s “useless” to talk about him running as vice president.

Duterte remembered his promise to Romualdez a few years ago during the fight for House speakership between Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco and Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

“Huwag ka na lang maghabol dyan, the next elections is just around the corner, if you run for vice president, I will support you, and I hold on that commitment,” Duterte recalled telling Romualdez.

He told lawmakers he is bound by this promise.

On Monday, June 14, Sen. Panfilo Lacson expressed belief that a Duterte-Duterte for 2022 is unlikely based on the information he has been receiving.

But he said it is still possible that Duterte would run as vice president as his partymates in PDP-Laban want to, while his daughter would seek the highest post of the land being the frontrunner in the polls.

“It’s Sara and somebody else (for vice president) and then somebody else (for president) and the President (for vice president). So there’s the possibility that both of them would be elected into office,” Lacson added.

Problems

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Wednesday that the next president would inherit a massive national debt and a host of other economic problems.

“This is a burden to the next administration. I don’t know why they want to run for president. We have this hefty debt,” Drilon told “Headstart” on ABS-CBN News Channel.

He said the economy was paying a “hefty price” for the administration’s “anemic” response to COVID-19, while the country sank P10.9 trillion in debt as of April.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Panfilo Lacson earlier said presidential candidates must be aware of the very difficult problems they will be facing, if elected.

Meanwhile, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, executive vice chairman of PDP-Laban, urged his partymates to endorse a presidential candidate from the party.

PDP-Laban is beset by infighting between party vice chairman and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who appears to be grooming a non-party standard bearer, while party president Sen. Manny Pacquiao is reportedly eying a presidential run. – With Paolo Romero