The citizens movement, which include lawmakers, on Monday launched the Hugpong Para kay Sara (HPS) to call on Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run for president and asked President Rodrigo Duterte not to run for vice president in the 2022 elections.
The HPS said President Duterte should give way to his daughter Sara in next year’s polls.
Earlier, the presidential daughter said that she would no longer consider the presidency after her father accepted his nomination as vice presidential candidate of PDP-Laban.
Mayor Duterte cited a supposed agreement in their family that only one of them can run for a national post in next year’s polls.
Meanwhile, over 15,000 supporters, chapter members and officers of HPS took their oath during a virtual launch of the citizen’s movement, which aims to persuade Duterte-Carpio to throw her hat in the presidential derby in 2022.
House Deputy Speaker and HPS Secretary-General Bernadette Herrera said HPS is a confluence of sectoral organizations and concerned individuals in the country and worldwide, from different walks of life, professions and political inclinations, who banded together to provide research and support to Mayor Duterte.
She said the movement is not tied to any traditional party, thus giving it a unique credibility and flexibility to negotiate through the corridors of Philippine politics.
Former Davao del Norte Governor and HPS Chairman Anthony Del Rosario, who led the oath-taking, said “Mayor Sara has always been consistent that only one Duterte can run for national office in 2022.”
“As the newly-appointed leaders of this movement, 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. This way, the country gets the benefit of considering the best candidate for the job, and that is her daughter.”
For his part, HPS President Allan Yap said Duterte is the most qualified person to takeover of her father’s post.
HPS vice chairman Robert Nazal, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the country’s business groups will support Mayor Duterte.
“We expect them to be very supportive. What do business look for the candidate? They are looking for a leader who will promote ease of doing business while securing peace and order,” he added.
The group said Duterte-Carpio has consistently led the list of Filipinos’ top bets for President in all independent surveys conducted so far.