(UPDATE) The Lakas-CMD party of former President Gloria Arroyo said Wednesday it was supporting Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio should she decide to run for a higher office in the 2022 elections.
House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, the party president, said Lakas-CMD decided to renew its alliance with Duterte-Carpio's Hugpong ng Pagbabago, aiming to build a multi-party coalition.
The alliance would bind the two parties together to support whoever they choose to field as presidential candidate in the 2022 elections, he said.
“If Mayor Sara Duterte decides to seek higher office for 2022, we are ready to work for her victory in the coming election,” Romualdez said in a statement.
Arroyo is the president emeritus of Lakas-CMD, which was the ruling party during her presidency.
In response, Duterte-Carpio thanked Lakas-CMD for its "unconditional support."
She said officers of Hugpong ng Pagbabago are in talks with "several high-placed national officials" about her potential presidential candidacy in 2022. While she was not privy to these discussions, she was assured that those involved would respect her decision should she decide not to run for president.
Duterte-Carpio is among the top choices for president in pre-election surveys so far, although she recently said it's too early to decide on her political plans for next year.
President Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, expressed his support to Romualdez should he run for vice president next year.
Lakas-CMD previously forged an alliance with Hugpong ng Pagbabago in 2018 which allowed for their partnership in the 2019 elections.
"The 2022 election will see both parties working together once more for the common good but this time, hopefully, with more political parties on board,” Romualdez said.
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