FILE PHOTO

The camp of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Monday rejected the possibility of her running for president under the administration party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN).

Liloan Cebu Mayor Christina Garcia Frasco, Mayor Duterte’s spokesperson, issued that statement following insinuation of PDP-Laban faction under Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi that Mayor Sara joining or being adopted by the party as their candidate is a possibility.

“Mayor Sara has no intention of becoming a member of PDP-Laban or of being its standard-bearer now or in the near future,” Frasco said.

During a television interview, Cusi said Duterte-Caprio may rejoin their party or be adopted by them.

“That is a possibility, she can opt to rejoin PDP. That will be an open option…We can adopt a candidate who is aligned to our advocacies. Puwede po mangyari yun (It can happen),” he said.

However, the administration party has yet to talk to the President’s daughter, Cusi added.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte himself talked about a possible tandem between Duterte-Carpio and his longtime aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who filed his certificate of candidacy for vice president Saturday.

Frasco pointed out that the Davao City chief executive has already filed her candidacy for mayor.

“Mayor Sara Duterte has already filed her certificate of candidacy for mayor. Not being a member of PDP-Laban, she is not privy to the party’s sudden change of plans.”

On Saturday, Duterte-Carpio filed her candidacy for a third consecutive term as Davao City Mayor, despite topping surveys for the 2022 presidential race.

She has repeatedly rejected the possibility of joining any national party despite earning the support of at least six national parties for a possible presidential candidacy.

She chairs the regional Hugpong ng Pagbabago and is a member of the city-based Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod in Davao City.