Lakas-CMD defers to HNP on choice of 2022 presidential, VP bets
Once the most formidable political party in the country, Lakas-CMD has declared it is willing to step aside and give Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago the decision to select the presidential and vice presidential candidate it will support.
Lakas-CMD president and House Majority Leader Rep. Martin Romualdez assured HNP, a regional political party, that their party will extend “its full and unqualified support” to whoever the presidential daughter’s party will select as its bet for president and vice president in the 2022 polls.
Romualdez also revealed that during its leadership meeting on June 23, the Lakas-CMD decided to renew its alliance with the HNP when it comes to issues of “good governance, national unity, and continued reforms for economic recovery, including the sustained campaign to defeat the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.”
“We seek stronger cooperation in ensuring the preservation of the country’s democratic processes to further pursue a strong nation, including the conduct of peaceful and orderly elections in the service of the Filipino people,” said Romualdez in a statement.
The Leyte lawmaker had declared he is willing to run for vice president and team up with Mayor Duterte as the standard bearer of their partnership.
This came after President Duterte said he is willing to give up the PDP-Laban endorsement as its vice presidential bet if Romualdez declares for the vice presidency.
However, when the elder Duterte appeared to have changed his mind and reveal his intention to run for vice president, Romualdez said he will no longer join the vice presidential race.
On the renewal of the Lakas-CMD and HNP alliance, Romualdez said the relationship remained strong since the two parties launched it for the 2019 mid-term elections.
“We have had no problems working together since last election when we forged in November 2018 our alliance because all of us here are championing the ideals and principles of good governance and effective public service,” the Lakas-CMD chief said.
He added: “Our main objective is to help each other perform our duties and responsibilities and we believe that the people deserve a track record of performance from their elected leaders."
Lakas-CMD was the most dominant political party during the administration of one of its founders, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.