Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Sunday defended her trips to different parts of the country to consult on politics amid the COVID-19 crisis that continues to hit the Philippines, including her home city.
As Duterte-Carpio made her defense, House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez revealed that he personally discussed with the former the decision of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats to renew its alliance with the influential regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago for the 2022 presidential polls during the lady official’s belated birthday celebration in Makati City recently.
Duterte-Carpio, who is being encouraged to succeed her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, when he steps down next year, has travelled over the last several days to meet with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Pasay City, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia in Cebu, and
Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco.
She has expressed openness to running for the presidency.
"It is true that there is a pandemic, but it will not suspend the filing of COCs (certificates of candidacy) in October or postpone the elections in May 2022. A decision has to be made regarding my political career with or without the pandemic," she said.
"This pandemic will last 2-3 years and COVID-19 will become endemic, I have to be resilient. I have divided my entire week between my work as Mayor, my politics, and my family."
Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president, was replying to questions raised by House reporters about the June 29 photo of him with Duterte-Carpio, the HNP chairperson, at the residence of their common friend that he did not identify in Makati City.
“We exchanged pleasantries and shared updates on the renewed alliance of HNP and Lakas-CMD,” he said.
Romualdez said Lakas-CMD’s executive committee decided last June 23 to renew its political ties with HNP for next year’s elections.
“The June 29 meeting took place at the residence of our common friend in Makati City. It was a belated dinner celebration for Mayor Sara,” he said.
Romualdez is a University of the Philippines lawyer and Philippine Constitution Association president.
“The Lakas-CMD was the first political party to signify intention to renew an alliance with Mayor Sara’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago. This alliance binds our party to support whoever is chosen by HNP as their candidates for President and Vice President,” he said.
Duterte expressed gratitude to the Lakas-CMD for the party’s unconditional support on whatever political plans she may pursue in the 2022 presidential polls.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Lakas-CMD for the unconditional support. Daghang salamat kaninyong tanan!” Duterte said.
Romualdez also welcomed the latest statement of Duterte expressing her willingness to run for president.
“We welcome Mayor Sara Duterte’s openness to the idea of running for the presidency in the 2022 polls. If Mayor Sara finally decides to run for President in 2022, we will support her. We will mobilize the entire machinery of Lakas-CMD – from the national level down to governors, congressmen, mayors and councilors — to ensure her victory,” he said.
He said the Lakas-CMD “would extend its full and unqualified support not only to the presidential candidate to be selected by Duterte’s HNP, but also to its chosen vice presidential candidate.”
Romualdez said the alliance agreement would bind the two parties to support whoever they decide to field as candidate for President in next year’s election.
“If Mayor Sara Duterte decides to seek higher office for 2022, we are ready to work for her victory in the coming election,” he said.
“I call on other political parties to join us and be part of our mission to form a broad multi-party coalition anchored on shared principles. We need coalition partners that share the same vision of building a strong Republic through sustainable growth and development of the regions,” the Majority Leader said.