Sara to run for Congress in 2019

DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has announced her plans to run for a national post in the 2019 elections, but underscored that the position will be close to home.

In a briefing with reporters here, Carpio said she will be seeking the congressional seat in the First District of this city, thus, dispelling rumors that she was gunning for a senate seat in the 2019 elections.

"Nag ingon ko nga mudagan ko (I have announced that I will be running) for the First District," Carpio said.

"Abi nila mudagan ko Senator (they thought I would be running for Senator)," she said.

But she did admit that some quarters supporting her father, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, have been egging her to seek a senatorial seat.

Carpio said calls for her to run for senator have been coming not only from Duterte supporters in Mindanao, but from Luzon and Visayas as well.

"Their support won't be useful in my candidacy here in the first district," she said.

Duterte is a resident of Barangay Matina Crossing, a densely populated area at the gateway of this city's downtown area.

She likewise dashed loose talk that she was priming herself up for a head-to-head political battle with incumbent First District Rep. Karlo Nograles.

According to Carpio, Nograles has already signified his intention to vie for a Senate seat in the next elections.

The Dutertes and Nograles families have locked political horns in the past with the elder Duterte being challenged for the mayoral seat here by former Speaker Prospero Nograles.

But the two families have since reconciled with the younger Nograles even joining the President’s political party, the Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).