Sara Duterte officially entered the vice presidential race for the 2022 elections on Saturday, November 13.
The move comes after a whirlwind of events as candidates scramble to beat the November 15 deadline set by Comelec on the substitution of candidates.
Duterte abruptly withdrew her mayoral candidacy in Davao City on November 9, shortly followed suit by her brother, who also withdrew his reelection bid for vice mayor. In the next two days, the Presidential “First Daughter” resigned from regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago and joined Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD as a substitute candidate for Lyle Uy.
The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas also announced that it would be adopting Duterte as the running mate of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., a move that could greatly up the presidential hopeful’s chances at obtaining the country’s highest office.
On her decision to run for vice president, Duterte has called it an “opportunity” to “meet halfway.”
“It’s a path that would allow me to heed your call to serve our country and make me a stronger person and public servant in the years that lie ahead,” she said in a video posted her Facebook page. She noted that many were upset that she failed to file a certificate of candidacy for presidency on October 8, but hoped that her bid for vice president would appease her followers.
“I am here to answer your call. I appeal to all supporters to stay calm,” she stated.
In the midst of the younger Duterte’s political moves, current President Rodrigo Duterte has also announced plans to seek the vice presidency. The elder Duterte “will file his certificate of candidacy for the vice presidency on Monday, that’s what he said,” presidential communications chief Martin Andanar told ABS-CBN.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has meanwhile filed a COC for president, substituting for Grepor Belgica, under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan.
