SARA REITERATES NOT RUNNING FOR SENATOR

Despite continued calls for her to run as senator, Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio is firm on her stance that she will not run.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio once again said she is not running for senator in the midterm elections next year despite the public’s clamor for her to seek a national post.

“Definitely, I will not run for senator in the 2019 elections,” the lady mayor said.

Former president and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier said that Duterte-Carpio plays a “prominent role in national political life” being the daughter of the President.

“Judging by history really, Mayor Sara Duterte will become an important national figure,” Macapagal said.

There has also been a growing clamor from politicians urging the lady mayor to run in the senatorial race and one of them is Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

Pimentel expressed his support for the Presidential daughter because of her influence which is beneficial in addressing key national issues especially in Mindanao.

“Her experience as mayor of one of the country’s highly successful cities eminently qualifies her to speak for Mindanao, for peace and order, for the environment, and for the socio-economic upliftment of the marginalized sectors,” Pimentel said in a statement.

Based on the Pulse Asia Survey for the 2019 midterm elections taken from June 15 to 21 with 1,800 respondents who were asked for their top 12 senatorial bets next year, Duterte-Carpio garnered 46.2 percent votes.

In a local survey by the University of Mindanao Institute of Popular Opinion (UM-IPO), 75% of Dabawenyos believe Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections.

Meanwhile, 25 percent of the respondents said Duterte-Carpio will not run for senator.

“Perhaps, the 25 percent rely on the expression of Mayor Inday that she is not really set to run as senator unless being irked by the opposition party,” Arquiza said.

She added, “Perhaps, sentiment springs from the feeling that Davao will be left behind, a question of ‘who is left home?’ when both President Duterte and Mayor Sara will hold national positions.”/