House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday, July 7 said that the new coalition of key political parties in the country has started to take shape “sooner than expected”.
Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD, said the coalition is ready to push for the candidacy of the presidential or vice presidential candidate that the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a regional political party founded by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, will choose.
The daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte has not yet made any declaration about her plans in 2022 although leaders of the HNP coalition were expecting her to be its standard bearer.
Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD party, said the decision of the National Unity Party to renew its alliance with the HNP will “help boost the electoral chances of whoever is chosen” by the mayor’s party to run for president or vice president.
The latest political group to welcome renewal of alliance with HNP was the People’s Reform Party that was formed by the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.
The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino of former President Joseph Estrada has also declared support for a Sara Duterte presidential bid.
“The decision of the National Unity Party to renew its alliance with Hugpong ng Pagbabago of Mayor Sara Duterte is a welcome development. This will help boost further the electoral chances of whoever is chosen by HNP to be their candidate for President or Vice President in the 2022 national polls,” said Romualdez in a statement.
“With NUP on board, we believe the new coalition is fast taking shape and may turn into reality sooner than expected,” he stated.
The Lakas-CMD leader may also seek the vice presidency if President Duterte decides to back out from plans to run in tandem with his daughter.
On the other hand, several NUP members have aired hopes that popular Manila Mayor Isko Moreno will run for a higher office, preferably as vice president.
In a media interview after he announced PRP’s decision to renew alliances with HNP, Narciso Santiago Jr., Defensor-Santiago’s husband, said he is not convinced that a Duterte-Duterte team will run next year.