Sara Duterte denies agreeing to use plane to fly campaign materials

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Saturday denied making arrangements to use an airplane at the Davao International Airport supposedly to transport her campaign materials.

In a video that circulated on social media, three men were seen at the Davao International Airport claiming that they had a "successful meeting" with Duterte and an agreement was reached for her to use the plane.

"The public is advised that I have never told anyone that I am running for President and I have not conducted any meeting about the use of a plane for my campaign materials," Duterte said in a statement.

"I do not know the persons in the video — a certain PSI Manager Gino, Bong Acquia, TG Ponce, and the political coordinator of Ituloy Ang Pagbabago Movement (IPM). I am not a member of and not privy to IPM activities," she added.

The Davao City mayor then "sternly" warned even her supporters against the use of her name in their personal transactions, saying that she has pursued a case for name dropping, and supported a case against an organized crime group of supposed money scammers using her name in their fraudulent activities.

"I do not tolerate these activities and I do not hesitate to pursue legal action against those who besmirched my reputation even if they are supporters," the Davao City mayor said.

PG Ponce, who was seen in the viral video, later apologized for the incident.

Ponce, secretary general of Ituloy ang Pagbabago Movement, said they did not prepare any election materials supporting Duterte.

"My sentence is a future sentence so nagmamagandang-loob lang po yung kaibigan natin na may-ari ng cargo plane," Ponce said.

(Our friend who owns the cargo plane just volunteered.)

He also denied any meeting with Duterte.

"I'm sorry kay Mayor Inday Sara na nabanggit ang pangalan niya," Ponce said.

(I'm sorry that her name was brought up.)

Aside from Ponce, Sara Duterte previously identified PSI Manager Gino and Bong Acquia as two other people seen in the video.

Meanwhile, opposition coalition 1Sambayan on Monday dared the Davao City mayor to file a complaint against the individuals who supposedly acquired a cargo plane to fly her campaign materials.

In Sandra Aguinaldo's "24 Oras" report, 1Sambayan convenor Howard Calleja urged Mayor Duterte to act on the controversy, questioning if government funds were involved in the use of the cargo plane.

"Are they using govt funds for private enterprises? If she is true to her words, kasuhan na niya mga taong 'yun (file a case against them). Let her walk the talk. Otherwise, that is all lip service," said Calleja.

Duterte and her father President Rodrigo Duterte have topped the presidential and vice presidential surveys conducted by OCTA Research in July.

The mayor last month answered yes when asked if she was open to run for president in Eleksyon 2022. — Consuelo Marquez/MDM/DVM, GMA News