DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 14 November) — Mayor Sara Duterte on Sunday said she decided to join the vice-presidential race as a compromise, so that her supporters who had been urging her to run for President, will not cry again on November 15, the last day for substitution of candidates.
But her father, President Rodrigo Duterte said Sara’s running for Vice President is “decision nila Bongbong (the decision of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.), adding he was surprised why Sara is running for Vice President when she has been topping election surveys. “Nagtataka ako. Siya number one sa survey bakit sya pumayag na tatakbo lang ng Bise.”
In a pre-recorded video uploaded on her social media account, Sara said the offer to run for Vice President presented an opportunity to meet them halfway after filing her certificate of candidacy (COC) for reelection in October, instead of filing her candidacy for President.
She did not say who offered her to run for President.
She explained that “thousands of supporters … cried last October 8,” the deadline for the filing of COCs. But the calls to run for President continued even beyond the deadline for the filing of COCs at the Commission on Elections, she said. “I cannot find it in my heart to make them cry again on November 15,” the mayor added.
Sara filed on Saturday her candidacy for Vice President under Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as a substitute to Lyle Uy, the party’s candidate who withdrew from the race.
Immediately thereafter, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) announced it had adopted Sara as the running mate of presidential aspirant Marcos Jr.
“Stay calm”
Sara asked her supporters to stay calm amid the issues involving Partido Demoktratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the political party of her father, President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
President Duterte accompanied Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Lawrence Go at the Commission on Elections in Manila, both of them withdrawing their candidacies for President and Vice President.
Go, however, filed his COC for President under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) which has an alliance with the PDP, and President Duterte will return on Monday, according to Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, to file his COC for Vice President.
“The problems of PDP are their own, let them resolve the issues within their party. This is all politics and this will not matter in the years to come or even now while we need to focus on this country’s recovery and the people’s welfare. So, let us be circumspect and stay the course,” Sara added.
Sara, who said they will instead focus on “forging relationships to unite for the good of our country,” ended her statement with a quote from Brahma Kumaris: “The drama of life consists of elements of both destiny and freedom of choice.”
Won’t support Pacquiao, Marcos
In an interview by pro-Duterte vlogger Byron Cristobal or Banat By, President Duterte declared he will not support the presidential bid of Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao and former Senator Marcos whose party has adopted Sara as Marcos’ running mate. “Basta ako, kay Bong” (Me, I’m for Bong Go).
Go withdrew from the Vice Presidential race after Sara filed her COC for Vice President. The President said he urged Go to run for the top post instead.
“Umiiyak si Bong. Sabi ko wag kang umiyak. Ayan o, bukas ang Presidente, tumakbo ka. Bakit ka iiyak? Dahl lang anak ko sumingit bigla?” (Bong is cryig. I told him stop crying. Run for President. Why are you crying? Because my daughter suddenly entered the race?” the President recalled telling Go. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)