Sara Duterte takes oath as Lakas-CMD member

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021 Planet Philippines (Full Attribution Below) 425 Views 0 Comments

MANILA TIMES

NEWEST LAKAS-CMD MEMBER Outgoing Davao City mayor Sara Duterte is flanked by House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez (left) and Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. after filing her membership with Lakas-CMD at Revilla’s farm in Silang, Cavite on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Romualdez is president of Lakas-CMD. SCREENGRAB FROM FACEBOOK COURTESY OF FMR PHILIPPINES

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has taken her oath as a member of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), further fueling talk of a possible presidential bid in next year’s elections.

Duterte-Carpio, who resigned from her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), took her oath on Thursday before House of Representatives’ Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who is the president of the party.

Lakas-CMD, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s political party, fielded “placeholders” in case Duterte-Carpio decides to run as president.

In June, Lakas-CMD said it was set to renew its alliance with Duterte-Caprio’s regional party. The two parties have been in alliance since 2018, but it is unclear if the partnership was renewed for the 2022 polls.

The Davao City mayor is known to enjoy close ties with Arroyo, Lakas-CMD’s president emeritus, and was said to be instrumental in the former president’s ascent as Speaker in 2018.

Duterte-Carpio, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, withdrew her reelection bid on Tuesday, triggering speculations that she would seek a national post in next year’s elections despite her repeated denials.

The 43-year-old local executive, who has been the most popular among presidential prospects based on surveys, has yet to explain why she dropped her mayoralty bid.

It remains to be seen which national position she would be after.

The deadline for the substitution of candidates is on November 15.