DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday said that the COVID-19 pandemic will not suspend the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) from Oct. 1 to 8 nor stop the national elections on May 9 next year.
“It is true that there is a pandemic, but it will not suspend the filing of COCs in October or postpone the elections in May 2022,” President Duterte’s daughter said in a statement yesterday in reply to an insinuation by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno that local executives are going around the country to meet local politicians.
Moreno was apparently referring to the President’s first daughter as she is the only one who has been noted lately to have been visiting areas outside Davao City for various reasons.
“People need their mayor behind them, not one who is always making rounds to meet politicians and political parties,” Moreno said in Filipino in an interview last week.
But Duterte-Carpio was quick to point out that her travels are covered by leaves of absence and that she has apportioned her time between her family, politics and being mayor of Davao City.
She has yet to formally announce her seeking the presidency in next year’s elections although she had already said she was open to such possibility.
Duterte-Carpio, who heads the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) regional party, is reportedly set to come out with her final decision by the end of this month.
The mayor also said she has been invited to attend numerous engagements as well as consultations with various groups across the country.
She emerged as top contender in surveys on who will win in the 2022 polls. At least five political parties have signified interest in forming an aliiance with the HNP while certain individuals also want to be affiliated with the party for inclusion in its Senate slate.