MANILA, Philippines – Banners and other paraphernalia urging presidential daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to run in the 2022 national elections are not considered an electoral offense, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Friday.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez explained that it is not a violation of election laws because it is not election period, and Mayor Sara herself is not a candidate yet.

“Kahit nakapag-file na ng COC (certificate of candidacy) ang tao, kung hindi pa naman nagsisimula ang campaign period, hindi pa siya itinuturing na official candidate. At dahil hindi pa siya official candidate, kahit anong gawin niya, hindi pa siya pwedeng tratuhin bilang kandidato. Ibig sabihin, hindi pa siya pwedeng mag-commit ng election offense,” Jimenez said.

The poll body official said that the banners sprouting in different areas can only be considered as part of freedom of expression.

The campaign period for May 9, 2022 elections will start from February 8 to May 7, 2022.

Sara Duterte earlier thanked her supporters behind the campaign but she reiterated that she has no plans of joining the 2022 presidential polls.

She also urged her supporters to remove the tarpaulins they mounted without permits and to stop staging motorcades and other activities that may violate the health and safety protocols against COVID-19. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Asher Cadapan Jr.)

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated his position that he will not support the idea of his eldest daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, joining the presidential race in the 2022 elections despite the much urgings of their supporters.

Duterte made the remark during a situational briefing for the government response to the onslaught of storm ‘Auring’ in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur on Tuesday.

“Inday Sara is not running. I have really put my foot down. Naaawa ako sa anak ko,” he said.

“Ang pulitika dito sa atin, kababuyan,” he added.

The chief executive issued the statement after Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel urged him to convince either Mayor Sara or his former aide and now Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go to be his successor and continue his administration’s achievements when his term ends in 2022.

This came after Sara Duterte emerged as the top presidential and vice presidential preference for 2022 elections in a survey recently conducted by OCTA Research Team.

The poll showed that the president’s daughter came on top after 22% of the respondents picked her to be country’s next president.

Following Duterte is Sen. Grace Poe with 13%, Sen. Manny Pacquiao and former Sen. Bongbong Marcos with 12% each, and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso with 11%.

In the vice presidential race, Duterte also emerged on top after getting 14% of the survey votes. Moreno and Pacquiao got 11% each while Poe scored 10%.

Sara Duterte earlier thanked her supporters for their trust and confidence but reiterated that she is not interested in seeking the country’s highest post.

She also advised her supporters to stop mounting tarpaulins and billboards, as well as staging motorcades and other activities for her supposed 2022 candidacy.

Meanwhile, the president also warned the public against former Senator Antonio Trillanes III, one of his administration’s staunch critics.

“Be careful of trillanes, magbantay kayo. He will sell you to the devil. ‘Pag yan ang nakaupo. Patay, walang hiya yan. Sa totoo lang,” he said. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Rosalie Coz)

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte remained firm on her decision not to join the 2022 presidential race despite the urgings of her supporters to run for the country’s highest post.

During an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday, Duterte said she is grateful for the “trust and confidence” of her supporters, who are prodding her to join the race to succeed her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, who is set to end his six-year term on June 30, 2022.

However, the mayor said she is not interested and that there is “no chance” that she will change her mind in seeking the country’s top post.

“Nagbigay na ako na aking comments about it, and hindi siya nag-change. Baka dahil wala akong ibinibigay na rason kung bakit ayaw kong tumakbo sa pagkapangulo. Sa tingin siguro nila there’s this chance na magbago ang isip ko,” she said.

Duterte issued the statement after the release of a survey which showed her as the top presidential and vice presidential preference for 2022 polls.

On “Run Sara Run” tarpaulins and billboards mounted in many areas around Davao City, Mayor Sara said she has ordered the removal of these materials and reminded her supporters that posting them without permits is prohibited.

“Magre-remind lang ako sa lahat na iyang paglalagay ng mga billboards at tarpaulins, there is a regulation, and one of that is kailangan ka magbayad,” she said.

She also asked barangay officials in the city to stop organizing motorcades and other activities that may violate rules laid out by the government to curb the transmission of COVID-19 in the city. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Lucille Lloren)