Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo 's Lakas-CMD party on Monday denied reports she had a hand in Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio's decision to run for vice president instead of president in 2022.
Contrary to reports there was no meeting, planned or cancelled between Arroyo and Duterte-Carpio on Balesin Island. Neither did she invite presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos to go to the island, Lakas said.
President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter did fly to Balesin on Nov. 11, but for the birthday of her ally, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. That was two days after she dropped her reelection bid for mayor, quit her own Hugpong ng Pagbabago party and joined Lakas.
On Saturday, Duterte-Carpio filed her candidacy for vice president via substitution under Lakas. Marcos on the same day adopted her as running mate.
"From the beginning, Lakas-CMD was publicly committed to any national aspirations of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio," the party said.
"The idea of her running as vice president did not originate from former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo," it added.
Duterte-Carpio initially shunned higher office but told supporters on Sunday that she was seeking the vice presidency to as a middle ground with her supporters who have been pushing her to run for a national post.
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