Palace: Sara Duterte definitely running for Davao City mayor in Eleksyon 2022

Malacañang said Monday that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, will not run for a national post in Eleksyon 2022.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the comment in response to queries on Mayor Sara's political plans for next year after she met with Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia as well as presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. in Cebu over the weekend.

"Ang sabi po sa akin ni Governor Gwen, ang sabi daw ni Mayor Sara on her possibility of running for President, that ship has sailed (Governor Gwen told me that concerning running for President in 2022, Mayor Sara said that ship has sailed)," he said during a Palace briefing.

"So talagang mayor ang takbo ni Mayor Sara (So she is really running for reelection as mayor)," Roque added.

Mayor Sara earlier told reporters that her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, which she founded, is in talks with the camp of Marcos to see how it can help in Marcos' Eleksyon 2022 presidential run.

The Davao City mayor has been leading pre-election polls on Eleksyon 2022 presidential aspirants, but she did not file a certificate of candidacy for President last October 1 to 8.

Instead, she filed a certificate of candidacy for reelection as Davao City mayor.

Mayor Sara, however, has until November 15 to be the substitute of a member of a national party who filed his/her candidacy for President or Vice President.

Roque earlier said he will only pursue a 2022 Senate bid if Mayor Sara runs for President in the same elections. —KG, GMA News