Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte was sworn in as member of Lakas-CMD, a political party that has reportedly fielded a placeholder for both president and vice president who may be subjected to substitution the deadline set by the Commission on Elections on Monday, Nov. 15.
Duterte was sworn in as new member of the party by Lakas-CMD president and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.
“The officials and members of Lakas-CMD are elated to welcome Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as new member of our party. We had long been inviting Mayor Inday to join our party as we are all impressed with her sterling qualities as a leader and we saw up close her exemplary work ethic as chief executive of Davao City,” Romualdez said immediately after physically administering the oath to Duterte at the Revilla Farm in Silang, Cavite exactly 6 p.m. Thursday.
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Lakas-CMD chairman, witnessed the oath taking as it took place while the lady mayor was attending the wedding of the senator’s daughter.
It was not immediately known if Partido Federal ng Pilipinas presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. , who was also at the wedding party, also stood as witness to the oath-taking ceremony.
The Lakas-CMD oath taking took place a day after the presidential daughter resigned as chairperson and member of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a regional political party she founded in 2018.
She has also withdrawn her candidacy as re-electionist mayor of Davao City.
Her actions are seen as glaring indications that she will be running for a higher national post, possibly president or vice president.
Romualdez, chairman of the House Committee on Rules, said Duterte has a proven track record with excellent credentials as mayor of Davao City.
He said the presidential daughter will be a very promising leader and a tremendous asset to the Lakas-CMD.
“I am confident that with Mayor Sara’s exceptional brand of leadership, she can help our party chart a new course that will ensure a brighter tomorrow for our children and the next generation,” Romualdez, a lawyer from University of the Philippines (UP) and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), said.