The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) leadership in the House of Representatives expects Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to add to her already significant survey lead over her rivals as the campaign period continues to unfold.
“I am convinced that Mayor Duterte will not only sustain her lead over her rivals, but will gain further, now that we are in the official campaign season where the vice presidential candidate could bring her and the UniTeam’s platforms directly to the people and expound on them,” said Lakas-CMD President and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez in a statement Monday, Feb. 14.
“Add the fact that she’s already going around the country for her campaign, sealing off support from folks and politicians alike,” Romualdez added of Duterte-Carpio, who is the party chairperson.
Romualdez gave these statements following the release of the results of the survey conducted across the country by the Laylo Research, which showed that the lady mayor was the vice presidential bet of choice by 60 percent of the 15,450 respondents compared to the 19 percent of her closest rival, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.
The mega-poll was was carried out from Jan. 10 to 26, or at the very least two weeks before she began her nationwide campaign.
Duterte-Carpio also topped the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted from Jan. 19
to 24 where she got the nod of 50 percent of the respondents. Sotto was again second, with 29 percent preference rate.
At the start of the campaign, Duterte barnstormed key areas in the Visayas and Mindanao through her “Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride (MNPR)” where she notched the support and backings of political leaders, various groups and grassroots organizations.
Even in Bicol region, the supposed bailiwick of a presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo, Duterte got assurances of support and endorsements from key political leaders in the region, including Camarines Sur Gov. Migz Villafuerte, Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, Camarines Norte Edgardo "Egay" Tallado, and Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda.
Duterte has also initially campaigned in Central Luzon, particularly in Nueva Ecija and Nueva
El Shaddai leader, Brother Mike Velarde recently endorsed Duterte-Carpio and her May 2022 poll partner, presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos during an event in Parañaque City where the charismatic church leader echoed BBM-Sara UniTeam’s call for unity.
Velarde recalled that El Shaddai delivered 2.5 million votes to then-Vice President Joseph Estrada in the 1998 presidential elections. Estrada handily won those polls.
“We will not only sustain the lead, but we will veer away,” Romualdez said of Duterte-Carpio's chances in the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, the majority leader's wife, Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez led last Saturday the inauguration of TINGOG-UniTeam Pampanga Headquarters at Kingspire Business Centre in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
Rep. Romualdez, chairperson of the House Committee on the Welfare of Children, said the opening of the headquarters will further intensify the unity message being espoused by Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) presidential candidate Marcos and his running mate, Duterte-Carpio.
The Tingog solon was joined in the event by Tingog nominees Jude Acidre and actress-host Karla “Mamshie” Estrada. Lakas-CMD figurehead, Former President and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also graced the affair.