Vice President Sara Duterte (Noel Pabalate/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) says it "respects and understands" Vice President Sara Duterte's decision on Friday morning, May 17 to resign from the party.

"We thank Vice President Sara Duterte for the services she rendered to our party, the Lakas-CMD, as party chair, and for helping us build a Unity Team aimed at bringing meaningful change to Philippine society," Agusan del Norte 1st district Rep. Joboy Aquino, the party's secretary general, said in a statement at around Friday noon.

"As we respect her decision, we understand her reason for leaving the political party," Aquino said.

"We also support her call for all political leaders to unite in support of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., and for all of us to work for the success of this administration for the benefit of our people," he added.

"We continue to believe in our shared vision that only a country united can lift the Filipino people out of poverty and ensure a better future for generations to come," the Lakas-CMD official further said.

Duterte's resignation came at the heels of Pampanga 2nd district Representative and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's removal as senior deputy speaker last May 17.

Arroyo, who commands respect in the 300-strong House of Representatives, is the chairperson emeritus of Lakas-CMD, the biggest party in the lower chamber.

The have been rumors that Arroyo is plotting to unseat Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez as House Speaker. Romualdez is Lakas-CMD president, and also Marcos' cousin.

Then-Davao City Mayor Duterte joined Lakas-CMD in Nov. 11, 2021. Romualdez even served as one of Duterte's campaign managers in the polls the following year, when the latter ran as Marcos' vice presidential bet.

The Duterte-Marcos tandem was dubbed the "UniTeam".

Romualdez is yet to personally address Duterte's resignation.