Mayor Sara Duterte: HNP in talks with 'national' leaders for her possible pres'l bid
Hugpong ng Pagbabago chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Monday, June 23 confirmed that officers of the regional party she founded are in talks with “several highly-placed national officials” in connection with her possible run for the presidency in the 2022 elections.
Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, made this disclosure a few hours after House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez announced that Lakas-CMD has decided to renew its alliance with HNP and that it will support her should she decide to join the presidential race.
Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president, has been mentioned by President Duterte as his candidate for vice president if the House official decides to make a bid for the position.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Lakas-CMD for the unconditional support,” the young Duterte said in a statement.
“I am aware that the officers of Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) are in talks with several highly-placed national officials regarding the 2022 elections. I am not privy to these discussions, but I was told that the meetings are about my candidacy for the Presidential race in 2022,” the local executive said.
She added: “I was assured that everyone involved in these talks will respect my decision if I decide against running for President.”
Aside from Lakas-CMD, HNP is still in alliance with six other major political parties in the country, including the ruling PDP-Laban currently headed by her father as chairman and by party acting president and Senator Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao has been touted as among the favorites in the upcoming presidential elections.
However, poll surveys indicate that Mayor Duterte can be a runaway winner should she join the contest to replace her father.
The Nationalist People's Coalition, an HNP ally, has also disclosed it is exploring the possibility of fielding candidates to the two top positions in the national polls.
Senate President and NPC president Vicente "Tito" Sotto III has revealed he is interested in pursuing the vice presidency. He has endorsed Senator Panfilo Lacson, an independent, as his candidate for president.
Like Mayor Duterte, Lacson remained hesitant in joining the presidential race.