By Ben Rosario

21/02/2019

“Sarastar!”

Former president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may have unwittingly given this moniker to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio should she decide to join the 2022 presidential race.

Arroyo told the media that the lady mayor, campaign manager for the 13-man senatorial ticket of Hugpong ng Pagbabago, is the “rising star in Philippine politics.”

“Let me just say she is a rising star in Philippine politics even Senator Ping Lacson saw that,” the former chief executive told reporters.

“But let’s take it one election at a time, let’s make sure first the good people are elected now and let us talk about 2022 later on,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo said Duterte-Carpio “has a big chance” of snaring the presidency.

“She’s a rising star in Philippine politics and let me just put it this way, historically children of presidents do rise,” she pointed out.

Arroyo, the second woman to become president, is the daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal.

The other children of former presidents are former President Benigno Aquino III, only son of the late President Corazon Aquino and Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.

In 1969, then Sen. Sergio Osmeña Jr.  ran for president but lost to re-electionist President Ferdinand E. Marcos.  Osmeña was the son of the late President Sergio Osmeña.

Former Sen. Mar Roxas, who is making a political comeback, is a grandson of the late President Manuel Roxas.  He lost the presidency to incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte during the 2016 presidential contest.

Mayor Duterte-Carpio has been trying to dodge questions regarding her political plans in 2022.

Interviews on various occasions during her campaign trips to Ilocos Norte and Isabela, Duterte-Carpio said she will announce her decision on January, 2021.

“Depende sa circumstances. Siguro gawa na lang tayo ng deadline on January 2021,” she told reporters following a campaign sortie in Vigan City. (It will depend on the circumstance. Maybe we should set a deadline on January 2021)

“I wish that they would not talk about me like that dahil iyong may gustong maging president, as early as now ilalagay nila ako sa number one sa hate list nila,” the local chief executive noted.

Earlier, President Duterte announced that he will be throwing his support for former Senate President Manny Villar should he decide to make another run for the presidency.

Mayor Duterte-Carpio pointed out that running for the highest position in the land is not an “overnight decision”, saying that it requires money, machinery and “guidance” from God.