Less than a week after Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte announced she will not be contending for next year’s presidential race, her supporters are set to launch on Monday, Sept. 13, a citizens movement urging her to reconsider.
In a press statement released through the viber group formed by the Hugpong ng Pagbabago spokesman former Davao Del Norte Gov. Anthony del Rosario, the HPS was described as a “confluence of sectoral organizations and concerned individuals” that have banded together to convince the presidential daughter to seek the presidency next year.
Currently the HNP chairperson, Mayor Duterte announced Thursday that she will no longer run for president because her father has already declared his bid to seek the vice presidency.
“We will proceed with the HPS launching in spite of the recent pronouncement of Mayor Sara that she wlll not run for president because we still believe she is the most qualified to lead our nation for the next six years,” HPS spokesperson and Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Rep Bernadette Herrera said.
While the HPS claims that it is standing by Mayor Duterte’s decision not to run for president, the group remained optimistic she will have change of heart.
“We share a common aspiration – to effect true and lasting change for the country. We believe Mayor Sara is the perfect person with her personality and being confident, yet quiet and reserved pero palaban at may totoong malasakit para sa bayan (but a fighter and has sincere concern for the country),” said Herrera.
Del Rosario, HNP secretrary general, stated: “Mayor Sara’s reluctance to run means she has discernment. This shows she is not a political opportunist.”
“She has consistently shown a gentle heart for her constituents, especially the common folk, and that to many Filipinos, is priceless. A style of governance couched by a strong political will and a thoughtful mind, which many of our citizens believe is what the country needs,” the former governor stressed.