Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte withdrew from her mayoralty re-election race and stated that her brother, Vice Mayor Baste, would run for mayor instead. The twin moves thus set the stage for her candidacy for a national position, theoretically for President, Vice President, senator or party list. Realistically, only the positions of President and Vice President are being considered.

Diehard Duterte senators Bato de la Rosa, running for president and Bong Go, running for vice president are making their slots available for a Sara substitution in the event that she chooses to run under PDP Laban. As the presidential daughter has time and again stated that she will not be joining PDP Laban, then a number of smaller national parties are still there for her. The deadline for substitution is on November 15.