Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has nothing to do with the decision of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run for vice president, the Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) said in a statement Monday.
“From the beginning, Lakas-CMD, chaired by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. with House Majority Floor Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as President, was publicly committed to any national aspirations of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio,” the party statement read.
“The idea of her running as Vice President did not originate from Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” it added.
The Lakas-CMD issued the statement following reports that Arroyo and other lawmakers met with the President’s daughter in Balesin last week with regard to the latter’s supposed decision to file as substitute candidate for a national post.
“There was no meeting, planned or cancelled, between former President Arroyo and Mayor Duterte in Balesin. There was no summons for former Senator Bongbong Marcos to go to Balesin,” Lakas-CMD said.
“As earlier stated by party President Romualdez, LAKAS-CMD is elated with Sara joining Lakas because of her ‘sterling qualities as a leader and we saw up close her exemplary work ethic as chief executive of Davao City,’” the party added.
On Nov. 9, Duterte-Carpio officially withdrew her candidacy for Davao City Mayor, and was replaced by her brother Sebastian Duterte, the incumbent vice mayor.
On Nov. 11 – the same day she flew to Balesin to attend the birthday celebrations of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his wife, Rowena – Duterte resigned from her regional political party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, and was officially sworn in as a member of Lakas-CMD.