DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte on Thursday declared that she will not run for president in next year’s polls after President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte accepted the nomination of a faction of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to be the running mate of Sen. Bong Go.

“I am not running for a national position as we both agreed only one of us will run for a national position in 2022,” Mayor Sara said an interview with RG Cruz of ABS-CBN 2 that was shared to reporters on a Viber thread.

“From the last time PRRD and I talked this was their Plan A. The Plan B was for SBG to run for VP,” Mayor Sara said.

The PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi nominated the Go-Duterte tandem during the party’s national convention held in Pampanga Wednesday where President Duterte accepted the challenged.

Go asked his party mates to instead look for a presidential bet who can continue the legacy of the Chief Executive.

Also on Wednesday, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III launched their tandem for the 2022 presidential polls.

Unlike in 2019, Mayor Sara, chairperson of the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), said she will not support the PDP-Laban in the 2022 presidential polls.

“No. I will not share my light this time,” Mayor Sara said, adding that “our politics do not interfere with our familial relationship. Iba ang trabaho, iba ang pamilya. Walang personalan.”

Mayor Sara also expressed her gratitude to all her supporters. “I am happy we are united in our desire to see a better Philippines in the future. I will be eternally thankful for your trust and confidence.”

Davao Occidental Gov. Claude Bautista of the Ituloy ang Pagbabago Movement hinted at the possibility that the situation could still be reversed.

“Layo pa kayo ang election. Anything can happen. I always believe in God’s will!!! What is important is that she has the desire to serve the people and everything will follow. We believe in her (Mayor Sara) leadership and I will always believe in her and I will always be her avid fan no matter what now and forever,” Bautista, a staunch ally of Mayor Sara, said.

In his speech during the event late Thursday afternoon, Duterte said he is motivated to continue his service for the people because of his love for the country and intention to maintain his advocacy in the fight against illegal drugs and insurgency.

The other PDP-Laban faction is led by Sen. Manny “Pacman” Pacquio and Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.