By Che Palicte/ Philippine News Agency
Amid speculations about her substitution and running for the presidency in the 2022 polls, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte on Friday pleaded to supporters and the media not to camp outside the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila.
This, as supporters got enthusiastic about the series of events that unfolded this week as Duterte withdrew from this city’s mayoralty race on November 9.
The mayor then resigned as the founding chairperson of the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) on November 11, and on the same day took oath as a new member of the national Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party in Silang, Cavite, further fueling speculations that she might register as a substitute in the presidential race before the deadline on November 15.
“To all my supporters, as well as to members of the media, I beg you not to camp outside the Comelec. I also beg those in the province not to travel to Manila. I am only here in Davao City because of the continuous rains and floods,” she said on her official Facebook page Friday.
She said camping outside the Comelec is unnecessary due to the current pandemic.
“I don’t want you to get sick. Rain and the heat of the sun are your enemies. Please also think about the situation of your families,” Duterte added.
Last week, Duterte had also appealed to her supporters to cancel their planned Cotabato to Manila caravan from November 4 to 15.
“I am respectfully appealing to the organizers of Sara All Philippines 2022 to forego the planned Cotabato to Manila caravan from November 4 to 15,” Duterte said.
Local convenors of the “Run, Sara, Run” here earlier planned to hold a grand caravan in Pasay City from November 14 to 15 in the hopes she would file for substitution.
The convenors, who are members of the Sara All Philippines 2022, recently held caravans in Cotabato City, Bukidnon, and Cagayan de Oro City.
The same caravan supporters planned to convene on November 14 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City until Nov. 15, the deadline for the substitution of candidates.
“To my supporters, I admire the strength of your heart. As for the members of the media, I also admire your dedication to the work,” Duterte said.
She also told them that designated spokespersons will give an official statement, provide pictures, and videos of her activities.
Duterte’s spokesperson Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia Frasco, meanwhile, noted that the mayor’s governance principles were aligned with the principles of LAKAS-CMD.
“Her exemplary performance as Mayor of Davao City is in alignment with the principles upon which LAKAS-CMD is anchored, namely, good governance, economic development, people empowerment, social justice, and sustainable development,” Frasco said in a video message posted on her official Facebook page.
She also added that as Duterte makes her decision in the next few days, she carries with her the hopes and aspirations of the Filipinos as she listens to the call to serve and to work for the betterment of the nation.
“Mayor Sara sincerely thanks our countrymen for your unceasing support. Let us unite for our dear Philippines. Let us unite for our dear country,” Frasco added. (PNA) -rir
