The People’s Reform Party has adopted Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as its candidate for the vice president in the May 2022 national elections.
PRP President Narciso Y. Santiago Jr. said the decision was reached by the executive committee on Tuesday, Nov. 16, three days after the presidential daughter filed for substitution as Lakas-CMD’s bet for the vice presidency.
“Ang PRP ay sumusunod sa prinsipyo ni Senadora Miriam Defensor Santiago. Sa paniniwala namin si Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio ay may mga katangian na kayang itaguyod ang mga adhikain ni Miriam Defensor Santiago,” said Santiago, in reference to his late wife and PRP founder.
In Party Resolution No. 1-2021, the PRP stated that it has not issued a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance and “has not official candidate for vice president, nor has the party endorsed nor supported any Vice President in the upcoming National Elections on May 9, 2022.”
“Now therefore, the executive committee of (PRP, pursuant to the powers vested to it by its Constitution and By-Laws, resolved as it herebyr esolved, to adopt Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio of Lakas-CMD Party as the party’s candidate for vice president of the Philippines in the 9 May 2022 National Elections,” stated Resolution No. 1-2021.
Santiago said PRP has also started finalizing campaign strategies for election of Mayor Duterte, together with its senatorial candidates, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and former Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro.
“If you will notice these two gentlemen are both products of the UP College of Law. To finish law at UP is already an accomplishment by itself,” said Santiago.
Roque said the “barest minimum qualifications” for a person to qualify as PRP’s candidate is that they must be endowed with “honesty and integrity” as what Senator Santiago pursued when she founded the party.
Santiago cited Mayor Duterte’s closeness and show of respect for Senator Santiago as other reasons for PRP’s decision to adopt her as its vice presidential candidate.
He recalled that the local chief executive always make it a point to personally attend death anniversary rites for his wife.
“Tuwing anniversary ni Senator Santiago, umaalis siya sa Davao ng maaga para lamang maka-attend dito,” he said.
A former Department of Financial official, Santiago said PRP has shown is support for Mayor Duterte when they forged an alliance with the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a regional political party established by Mayor Duterte, during the 2019 mid-term elections.
He said PRP had already declared it will renew the alliance with HNP even before its founder resigned from the regional party to join the Lakas-CMD party which fielded Mayor Duterte as its vice presidential candidate in 2022.