Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio officially withdrew her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for reelection on Tuesday, November 9, at the city’s Commission on Elections office, fanning rumors that she might seek a national post.
This abrupt pullout was announced on her official Facebook page, just six days before the deadline for candidate substitutions in the 2022 elections.
“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 sa ngayon. Maraming salamat po.” she said.
Hours earlier, her younger brother, Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte also withdrew his reelection bid and will instead run for the city’s top job as the replacement for his sister.
As for the city’s Vice Mayoral post, Melchor Quitain Jr., a current councilor, will run in place of Baste.
Mayor Duterte-Carpio has been reputed to run for president for a long time and continues to dominate different presidential polls. She has, however, constantly denied that she would run for the position. She even stated that she wished to complete her term as mayor of Davao City.
Despite her previous statements of disinterest in running for a national office, Duterte-Carpio’s withdrawal further fuels existing speculation that she may do so.
