Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of her candidacy as a reelectionist mayor for the 2022 national elections.
In a Facebook post, Sara said she will be endorsing his brother Vice Mayor Sebastian 'Baste' Duterte as the next Mayor of the city.
"Ngayong hapon wini-withdraw ko ang aking kandidatura sa pagka-Mayor ng Davao City. Si VM Baste ang papalit sa akin," her statement read.
"Ito lamang po muna sa ngayon. Maraming salamat po," she added.
Baste earlier withdrew his candidacy as a reelectionist vice mayor with reports claiming that his move was upon the order of Sara.
The Davao City mayor has yet to reveal her political plans in the upcoming national elections.
Prior to this, Sara repeatedly rejected calls of her supporters to run for the presidency and be the possible successor of his father, President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to her previous statements, the presidential daughter said she wants to finish her three-year term as mayor of their hometown Davao City.
But can Sara run for a national post?
If Sara decides to run for a national post in the 2022 polls, she can choose from two political parties: Lakas-CMD and PDP-Laban, which both showed their support for her possible candidacy.
Previously, Lakas-CMD secretary-general Prospero Pichay admitted fielding their members for both presidential and vice-presidential posts. A certain Anna Capela Velasco as its presidential candidate and another equally unknown member named Lyle Fernando Uy for its vice-presidential post.
On the other hand, PDP-Laban, a party led by President Duterte, has previously urged Sara to run for the presidency.
Sen. Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa and Christopher 'Bong' Go are the standard-bearers of the party for the presidential-vice presidential posts.
The deadline for substitution for party candidates is until Monday, November 15, as per the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
