Sara urged: Reconsider decision to back out

MANILA, Philippines — Supporters of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio who want her to take over when her father, President Duterte, steps down in June 2022 asked her yesterday to reconsider her decision to back out from the presidential race next year.

Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera and former Davao del Norte governor Anthony del Rosario, secretary-general and chairman, respectively, of the group Hugpong Para kay Sara (HPS), spearheaded the launching of the movement, where members took their oath.

“President Duterte started good programs, but that is not to say there is nothing to be improved. No government is perfect. This movement is one step to show her that there are many people who believe she is the best person for the job,” Herrera told a virtual briefing.

HPS is led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, a close friend of the President’s daughter, while its members include former Dangerous Drugs Board chief Dionisio Santiago, former cabinet secretary Jun Evasco and House appropriations chairman Rep. Eric Go Yap.

At the same time, the group appealed to the President to forgo his nomination as vice presidential candidate of the ruling PDP-Laban in 2022, so that Sara can join the national elections owing to an agreement that only one Duterte will run for national office.

“Mayor Sara has always been consistent that only one Duterte can run for national office in 2022. Aside from trying to convince Mayor Sara to run for the highest post in the land, we want to respectfully persuade President Duterte not to run,” del Rosario told reporters.

“This way, the country gets the benefit of considering the best candidate for the job, and that is his daughter,” he maintained, adding that while Sara is Duterte’s daughter, they do not necessarily agree with each other all the time when it comes to policies.

“She has an independent mind. She makes her decision. She is version 2.0. She is a Zimmerman. When you combine a Zimmerman and Duterte, you get a better product,” del Rosario stressed.

Sara, for her part, expressed her gratitude to everyone from all over the Philippines and around the world – politicians, professionals, academicians, overseas Filipino workers and others – who have continued to express their strong support for and deep trust in her.

“Mayor Sara is one with our countrymen who yearn for a brighter future for our country. She encourages all of us to continue to move forward amidst the challenges of our time. As she said: while there is life, there is hope,” Mayor Christina Frasco of Liloan, Cebu said.

Meanwhile, a congressman from the so-called Solid North batted for the possible tandem of Duterte-Carpio and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as president and vice president, should she decide to run in the 2022 national elections.

“I think this is the best team that can lead the country in the next six years due to their combined experience and genuine empathy for the common folk of this country,” Abra Rep. Joseph Bernos, vice president for special concerns of HPS, said.

“I say this because I, and former senator Marcos, are both from the north. It would be very difficult to argue that this team is the most qualified for the job of president and vice president,” he stressed.