Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (FILE PHOTO)

Despite announcement of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s spokesperson that the president Rodrigo Duterte‘s daughter will not seek presidential elections in 2022, but instead run for re-election in her province.

Supporters refused to give up though and still hopes that the 43-year-old First Daughter would run for president and file her Certificate of Candidacy come October 1 to 8.

President Duterte’s own adviser on political affairs, Secretary Jacinto Paras, who pointed out that Mayor Sara Duterte should just run for President in the 2022 national elections, instead of waiting for her father, President Duterte to reconsider his vice presidential plans.

“The need of the country and the clamor of the people for the best leader possible, takes precedence over any family commitment that only one Duterte can run for national office,” Paras said.

Paras, a three-term Congressman, explained that in the hierarchy of values, “what comes first is God, country, then family.”

Likewise, Cavite 1st District Rep. Francis Abaya said If she does, there will be continuity in government programs, Sara’s qualities of being “independent-minded and principled” convinced him to support her should she change her mind.

“I especially liked her stand not to run when her father said he will run for Vice President, because they have an agreement that only one Duterte should hold (a) national office. That, for me, shows Mayor Sara is a very principled politician, and is not an opportunist,” Abaya said after he joined the Hugpong Para Kay Sara group, which is clamoring for the mayor to seek the presidency.

“There is just no way I can ignore the kindness and support of the President and his daughter, especially now when my constituents in the first district continue to suffer because of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

He said assistance keeps on coming even if he is from the opposition Liberal Party.

“Walang opo-oposisyon sa mag-amang Duterte, maging ang Pangulo o si Mayor Sara. Kapag kailangan mo ng tulong, naroon sila (For the Duterte family, there is no opposition. If you are in need, they will be there),” he said.

Meanwhile, Paras said “If you go into politics, your service is to the nation, to your people. Now if you get increasing leads in all surveys, it’s clear what the people want. In this case, they want leader who can continue the good projects of her predecessor and lead the country to recovery.”

Paras went on to suggest that once President Duterte sees that the country will be in good hands, that is, there will be a continuity of his successful programs, “he will possibly withdraw on his own, and let Mayor Duterte pick her own running mate for next year’s polls.”

“I’m not afraid to lose my job,” Paras declared. “But I’m being frank because I know the President. He is just concerned about the country’s future, and the legacy he will leave especially when it comes to his unfinished programs. Once he sees his daughter is serious about leading the country, he may have a change of mindset.”