In a spate of moves that fanned winds of her looming declaration to run for a national office, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and brother Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte withdrew their Certificates of Candidacy (CoC) for Mayor and Vice Mayor of Davao City, respectively, on Tuesday afternoon.
The mayor confirmed the withdrawal this through her Facebook Page Mayor Inday Sara Duterte.
“Ngayong hapon wini-withdraw ko ang akong kandidatura sa pagka-Mayor ng Davao City. Si VM Baste ang papalit sa akin. Si Atty. Melchor Quitain ang nominado namin sa pagka-Bise Alkalde. Ito lamang po muna. Maraming salamat po,” the mayor posted.
Vice Mayor Baste also withdrew his Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) as vice mayor in the 2022 elections hours earlier.
Photos of Duterte going out from the Commission on Elections-Davao (Comelec-Davao) morning of November 9, 2021, circulated on social media.
These developments renewed hopes for her supporters of a possible change of mind from her decision not to run for President with six days left before the deadline set by the Comelec for substitution.
In a statement, the vice mayor confirmed his withdrawal as Vice Mayor candidate of Davao City and nominated Atty. Melchor Quitain Jr. as his substitute.
“I am deeply grateful to the Dabawenyos for the support they have given me all this time. I have no other details to share at the moment. Thank you,” Duterte said in the statement.
Duterte was reported receiving instructions from Mayor Sara that prompted his decision to withdraw.
His withdrawal also reinforces the speculation that he will replace Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio who is seeking reelection as mayor of Davao City.
Meanwhile, Quitain Jr., who is the son of Jesus Melchor Quitain, the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and former officer-in-charge of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP), is a member of the Davao City legislature, representing District 1. He is also the Majority Floor Leader of the 19th City Council.
