House of Representatives Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez on Friday appealed to the supporters of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for patience and understanding, saying the national position she will be running for will most likely be known this weekend.
“Yesterday (Thursday), she was formally admitted as a member of Lakas-CMD. The position that she will run for will be known most likely within this weekend. You will be among the first who will hear about it. A bit of patience as we make preparations and consultations with Mayor Inday and party leadership,” Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, said at a press conference.
Romualdez also said Lakas-CMD will give Duterte a significant position in the party leadership. “We are looking right now at what position that is,” he added.
“Lakas is very honored with our new member. She will bring so much vitality and so much vigor to the Lakas-CMD party, its leadership and more importantly for nation building that the Philippines needs. We now have a potential great national leader. We look forward to working with her,” he said.
Meanwhile, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter said Duterte-Carpio would decline the proposal of term-sharing in the presidency, describing it as “a very bad idea.”
“I don’t see that happening. That’s pure speculation,” said Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) secretary general Anthony Del Rosario.
Interviewed over TeleRadyo, Del Rosario said he believes Duterte-Carpio will not agree to the set-up recommended by Quezon Gov. Danny Suarez, the Lakas-CMD co-chairman.
“I don’t think Sara will agree to that kind of a set-up. Term sharing for presidency? That’s a very bad idea,” stressed Del Rosario.
Earlier Friday, Suarez said Duterte-Carpio and former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. might agree to share the presidency – if they run on the same ticket and win.
Romualdez expressed confidence that Duterte and Marcos Jr., his cousin, will find a compromise on their political plans.
“I’m hoping for that (no conflict). That they can work together, discussions between two have been along those lines. We’re thinking positively about this. We’re in the middle of getting two excellent leaders that can serve our country,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez admitted that Lakas-CMD would want Duterte-Carpio to run for president. But the party would respect whatever her decision may be.
“We shall support her decision with the options that are before her,” he said. “The party is here to provide security, support and to provide as much positive influence in moving the candidacy of our party members forward and for their future success.”
Romualdez added: “We are very glad and very happy and honored that Mayor Inday Sara has finally agreed and accepted our standing, long standing invitation to join Lakas-CMD. This has been extended as early as 2018. We have an alliance and active cooperation since then.”
Duterte-Carpio took her oath as a new member of the Lakas-CMD Thursday night, paving the way for a possible run at the presidency next year under a national party.
Saying that Duterte-Carpio would be a tremendous asset to the Lakas-CMD, Romualdez said: “We’re glad that last night (Thursday), she finally accepted, and I would like to tell you that she joined Lakas-CMD for a possible run in the national arena.”
Hours after resigning as chairperson and member of the regional party HNP, Duterte-Carpio, who has been topping various presidential surveys, took her oath before Romualdez as new Lakas-CMD member.
Lakas-CMD Chairman and Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. witnessed Duterte’s oath-taking at the Revilla Farm in Silang, Cavite.
“If the two (Duterte-Carpio and Marcos) will be running in tandem, I’d rather leave it up to them to make a final decision. We, as a party of Mayor Inday Sara, will be very supportive of her decision,” Romualdez, known for his consensus-building leadership, said.
“For time being I know there is engagement between the two (Marcos-Duterte). As we know, they saw each other and I’m sure they talked even not necessarily face-to-face, and I know they talk from time to time. Maybe even by Zoom,” Romualdez added.
The Davao City Mayor has until Monday to possibly substitute either for president or vice president under Lakas-CMD. She withdrew her certificate of candidacy (COC) for reelection as mayor last Tuesday.
Lakas-CMD earlier fielded its executive director Anna Capella Velasco as presidential aspirant and member Lyle Fernando Uy as vice-presidential bet.
Velasco graduated with an AB Broadcast Communication degree at the Institute of Mass Communication in University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and took up her Masters in Sociology (under thesis) at the Asian Social Institute.
Uy, meanwhile, earned his BS Entrepreneurial Management at the University of Asia and Pacific.
Should the Davao mayor run for president and win, Del Rosario said she won’t be amenable to term-sharing. He said a 6-year presidential term is “not enough to do the things you really want for this country,” more so if it’s only half of it.
“If she would ask me, don’t run for President anymore,” she said.
Suarez said since Marcos has been leading presidential surveys, he and the President’s daughter can have a term-sharing agreement.
“One will lead for 3 years then give way to the vice president. So, one will give up the position after 3 years,” he said.