DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio appeared on a 1:43-minute video on Sunday to explain her decision to run for a vice-presidential seat despite her repeated pronouncements she was not keen on running for a national position.
She cited the repeated call of her supporters, that she said prompted her to discard her former stand to stick to her mayoral reelection bid.
In Filipino, she said she would not let her supporters “cry again” on November 15 as they did on October 8 when she publicly announced
she was rejecting all calls to run for the Presidency.
She did not explain why she opted only for the vice-presidency when she was several notches ahead in most surveys than presidential
aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, whose Partido Federal has officially adopted her as their guest vice presidential candidate.
She only said that “after the deadline, the offer to run as vice president became an opportunity to meet you halfway”. She said it was a chance “to allow me to call to serve our country and make me a stronger person and public servant in the years ahead. I am here to answer your call.”
Her father, President Duterte, said he did not understand why Sara settled for a vice-presidential run when she was way ahead In the survey for preferred presidential candidates. Duterte said his daughter’s decision was hers and that of Marcos Jr.
On her father’s fragmented party, the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) which she had criticized, she said its
problems were their own. “Let them resolve the problems on their own. This is all politics and this will not matter in the years to come. Or
even now when we need to focus on the country’s recovery and the people’s welfare.”
She added: “I appeal to all supporters to stay calm. So, let us all be circumspect and stay the call, focus on forging relationships, to
unite for the good of our country,” she added.
“As we settle down for a peaceful Sunday let us reflect on the words from Brahma Kuhmaris: The drama of life consists of elements of both
destiny and freedom of choice,” she said.
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