By Regina Elaine Vendivil

Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio officially withdrew her candidacy as re-electionist mayor of Davao City for the 2022 elections before the deadline on November 15 for substituting party-list nominees on Tuesday, November 9. 

Sara made the announcement through a Facebook post without stating her next plans after her withdrawal of reelection bid. 

“Ngayong hapon wini-withdraw ko ang aking kandidatura sa pagka-Mayor ng Davao City. Si VM Baste ang papalit sa akin. Ito lamang po muna. Maraming salamat po,” she said.

Her younger brother, Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has also withdrawn his reelection bid as he will be his sister’s substitute bet for Davao City mayor. 

He nominated Atty. Melchor Quitain Jr., who was recently named new chief presidential legal counsel, as his substitute candidate. 

Despite Sara’s earlier declarations that she has no plans of running for president or vice president for the 2022 elections, various groups have been convincing her to succeed her father or be the running mate of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

It was also reported that she has recently met with two presidential candidates: Bongbong Marcos Jr and Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who has been pushing Sara for her presidential candidacy. 

On the other hand, vice presidential aspirant senator Bong Go revealed that there may be changes in his 2022 elections bid that will be announced in the coming days due to the wishes of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In 2015, President Duterte also withdrew his reelection candidacy for Davao City mayor and became PDP-Laban party’s substitute presidential candidate.

References:

Cupin, B. (2021, November 9). Sara Duterte withdraws candidacy for Davao City mayor. Rappler. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/sara-duterte-withdraws-candidacy-davao-city-mayor-november-2021‌

Tan, L., & CNN Philippines. (2021, November 9). Sara Duterte withdraws from Davao mayoralty race; Bong Go hints at changes in his VP bid. CNN Philippines. Retrieved from https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/11/9/Sebastian-Baste-Duterte-withdraw-Davao-Vice-Mayor.html?fb‌ 

Tejano, I. (2021, November 9). Mayor Sara withdraws reelection bid; fuels speculations on possible bid for nat’l post. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved from https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/09/mayor-sara-withdraws-reelection-bid-fuels-speculations-on-possible-bid-for-natl-post/ 

Photo Source: Reuters, Lean Daval Jr

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