Vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Thursday formally assumed the chairmanship of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), while Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. was elected co-chair.
During the Lakas-CMD National Council Meeting, House Majority Leader and Leyte First District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez said Mayor Duterte will serve as a “guiding light” of Lakas-CMD after she was elected chair of the revitalized party.
“We are delighted and honored that Mayor Sara accepted the chairmanship of Lakas-CMD,” Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president, said during the hybrid ceremony attended by party officials and members nationwide.
“We congratulate her for taking on this important role and we are confident that she will continue to inspire us more in working towards victory in the May 22 national elections,” he said.
“In fact, we consider Mayor Sara as our guiding light, and there is no doubt that her leadership experience and heart for public service will lead Lakas-CMD to greater heights and broader horizons in the coming months,” Romualdez added.
Revilla, who offered the post to Mayor Duterte on Wednesday, nominated Duterte in the event as Lakas-CMD party chair.
“Our chairman has graciously offered his position as Party Chair to Mayor Inday Sara Duterte. I move that we approve the nomination,” Romualdez said who led the adoption of the motion at about 1:12 in the afternoon following the overwhelming support of Lakas-CMD officials and members.
Later, Romualdez nominated Revilla as co-chair and the party adopted the motion.
“We thank Mayor Sara for her willingness to take on the challenge. The entire force of Lakas-CMD is in full support of her candidacy as we believe that she is the true epitome of an empowered woman capable of serving not just the party but our nation,” Romualdez said.
Mayor Duterte immediately presided over the National Council Meeting after her election.
Lakas-CMD officials present were Romualdez, Revilla, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Wilter Wee Palma II, Quezon City Rep. Anthony Peter Crisologo, Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr.;
Negros Occidental Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, Isabela Rep. Antonio Albano, Lanao del Sur Rep. Mamintal Adiong, Davao de Oro Rep. Way Kurat Zamora, Bacoor Mayor Lani Revilla and others expressed their full support to Mayor Duterte during the event.
The Davao City Mayor and daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte joined Lakas-CMD on November 11. Two days later, she filed her candidacy for vice president, substituting Lakas’ candidate.
She will run in tandem with former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
