The Hugpong ng Pagbabago headed by its chairperson, presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, is not inclined to accept President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement for her to run for president in the tandem with Senator Christopher “Bong” Go in the 2020 national elections.
In a statement released by on Thursday, Aug. 25 by HNP Secretary General and former Davao del Norte Gov. Anthony del Rosario, the regional political party pointed out that there remains no affiliation between the party and PDP-Laban where both President Duterte and Go belong.
Del Rosario called on the PDP-Laban to “refrain from involving our Chairperson in their future plans.”
“Furthermore, due to her commitment to effective governance, Mayor Sara knows and understands that running for President of the Philippines is something that should never be taken lightly,” said Del Rosario Del Rosario, who also acts as HNP spokesman, issued the statement as the regional political party’s reaction to President Duterte’s twin suggestions for the 2020 national elections, '
Previous to this, Mayor Duterte declared she will never seek the highest position if her father would insist in running for vice president.
“The Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) would like to convey its deep and abiding respect to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for recently expressing his wishes that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte either endorse the tandem of Senator Bong Go and the President, or take in Senator Go as her vice president, should she decide to run for the highest post in the land in the 2022 national elections,” Del Rosario said in the latest HNP statement.
He added: “Notwithstanding her unconditional love for her father, our Chairperson, Mayor Sara, reiterated once again to HNP that she will make her own decision on the matter of her run for the presidency at her own time.” “She likewise informed HNP that her decision on the matter will be her own, and will never be based on what other people or other political parties want, do or say,” stressed Del Rosario.
“Lastly, HNP respects and firmly stands by Mayor Sara’s decision to carefully study and analyze her plans for the 2022 elections. We urge all supporters to likewise respect her process. Rest assured that whatever her final decision may be, the welfare of our kababayans (countrymen) will be of her utmost concern,” said the HNP spokesman.