Sara Duterte making late entry into 2022 presidential race a ‘strong possibility’ — Fitch Solutions

Think tank Fitch Solutions said Tuesday it was not discounting the possibility that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will make a late entry into the 2022 presidential race.

Fitch Solutions cited the case of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, who entered the 2016 presidential race through substitution.

“We at Fitch Solutions believe there remains a strong possibility that Sara Duterte could still run for president, despite not filing for candidacy before the October 8, 2021 deadline,” Fitch Solutions said in its commentary.

“[T]here remains a loophole in which Sara could still run, substituting for another candidate before the November 15 deadline, as Rodrigo did six years earlier,” it added.

In the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa had said he was willing to withdraw his candidacy for president if Sara would run for the post under their party.

The Lakas-CMD party was open to having Sara as its new standard-bearer in Eleksyon 2022, party official Prospero Pichay Jr. said Monday.

Sara has repeatedly said she will not run for president. She filed her certificate of candidacy to seek a third term as mayor of Davao City on October 2.

President Duterte, meanwhile, said Sara is already out of the race to succeed him.

“We at Fitch Solutions believe that the uncertainty around the Philippine presidential race remains elevated in the near term, as the prospect of a late presidential bid from Sara Duterte remains,” it said.

Policy continuation, reforms

Fitch Solutions said that most of the presidential candidates will offer to continue the policies of the Duterte administration.

It said former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “appears [to be] one of the few candidates to agree with Duterte’s policy of engagement with Beijing, potentially offering the most policy continuity out of the announced candidates.”

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, on the other hand, will continue with the infrastructure plans of Duterte and tackle crime but in a less aggressive way than Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, according to the think tank.

Dela Rosa, a former national police chief, is expected to continue Duterte’s policies such as the war on drugs, the group said. 

“We expect his campaign to focus on crime and mirror Duterte’s illiberal approach, given his close ties to Duterte,” Fitch Solutions said.

Boxing champ and Senator Manny Pacquiao has criticized Duterte’s cordial relations with Beijing and “will most likely seek closer ties with Washington,” Fitch Solutions said.

Vice President Leni Robredo is seen to tackle illiberalism and end the drug war, it said.

“In addition, tackling poverty, education and healthcare issues will be priorities. She will also take a tougher stance on the Philippines’ dispute with China over territory in the South China Sea,” the think tank said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, is expected to focus on pro-business reforms.

“Nevertheless, we at Fitch Solutions believe a shift to a liberal democratic presidency remains of low probability and highlight the potential for key Duterte policies, such as his focus on infrastructure development and the ‘drug war’, to be continued to varying degrees,” the think tank said.

The 2022 presidential election will take place on May 9.  — VBL, GMA News