Mayor Sara Z. Duterte on Wednesday said Senators Christopher Lawrence Go and Sherwin Gatchalian “personally” expressed their intent to run as her vice president tandem should she decide to vie for the highest seat in next year’s elections.
Duterte also scoffed at the claims of his father, President Rodrigo Duterte, that Senator Imee Marcos went to visit her “hoping” to form a tandem as her vice presidential candidate.
“This is not true. She visited me in Davao last May 29 to personally relay her birthday wishes. So far, this is the only visit she has made to me in Davao,” the mayor said in a statement issued Wednesday night.
Former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, through “common friends” also relayed to her the offer to run as her vice-president, while other groups want either House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez or Senator Sonny Angara to be her running mate, Duterte said.
“I know of certain groups wanting to form a tandem but I cannot confirm if these are true,” Duterte added.
She added that she only read reports of a possible tandem with former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who earlier said he was considering running next year but did not say which post he was eyeing.
Marcos, Angara and Go were elected as senators in 2019 while Gatchalian’s term will end in 2022 but can seek reelection.
Duterte, who has yet to announce her plans, has less than a month left to decide before the scheduled filing of certificates of candidacy from Oct. 1 to 8. (PNA)
