Less than a week after withdrawing her candidacy as re-electionist mayor of Davao City, Mayor Sara Duterte tendered her resignation from the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a regional political party in Mindanao which she formed in 2018.
In a handwritten resignation letter dated November 10, 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter wrote: “It is with profound sadness that I hereby tender my resignation from our beloved party.” “My support will always be with you and I will always be grateful for all the things you have taught me. Daghang Salamat (Thank you),” she said.
The HNP issued a statement lamenting the decision of the outgoing Davao City chief executive.
“At 9:30 am today, 11 November 2021, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte tendered her resignation from Hugpong ng Pagbabago,” stated former Davao del Norte Gov. Anthony G. Del Rosario, HNP secretary general.
He added: “While we are saddened by her resignation, we however wish her all the best in her future plans.” Future plans could be a bid for the presidency which the former HNP chairperson has rejected in numerous public declarations in the past.
If she indeed intends to seek a national post in the 2022 national elections, Mayor Duterte is barred from joining the national race as a substitute candidate without joining a national political party.
This was made clear by Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez who said that Mayor Duterte should join a national political party for her to qualify as a substitute candidate for a national post.
“If she is going to substitute, then she will have to join a political party that already has a candidate for whatever position she wants to substitute,” Jimenez told a media interview on Thursday.
The presidential daughter has not yet declared which national political party she would join if indeed she has plans to seek a national post.
However, PDP-Laban, chaired by her father, appeared to be the last in her list if previous public pronouncement she made are to serve as basis.
Lakas-CMD which is the political party of close adviser former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could be a leading destination.
The National Unity Party, Nacionalista Party and the People’s Reform Party may also be considered possibilities.
In the meantime, the main consideration that will influence Mayor Duterte’s decision is whether or not the said parties have appointed placeholders who have instructions to withdraw in favor of a Sara Duterte substitution.