Political leaders in Pangasinan have joined the call for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run for president in the 2022 national elections.
`Deputy Speaker and Abono Partylist Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Bayambang Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao; Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr.; former Rep. Mark Cojuangco and 5th District Rep. Ramon Guico III were among Pangasinan’s leaders who have joined the Hugpong Para Kay Sara (HPS) movement.
A mass oath taking of HPS Pangasinan chapter officers and members was Sunday, Sept. 26 at the WCC Aeronautical and Technological College. Former Davao del Norte Gov. Anthony del Rosario, who presided over the oath taking ceremony as HPS national chairman, said they are hoping Mayor Duterte-Carpio will reconsider her previous decision to stay out of the presidential race, an HPS press release revealed.
Del Rosario is also the spokesman of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a local political party founded by Mayor Duterte-Carpio.
The presidential daughter made this decision after her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, confirmed his acceptance of the PDP-Laban nomination as its vice presidential bet in 2022.
Mayor Duterte-Carpio explained that her decision was in compliance to the family agreement that only one member can run for a national post in 2022.
“With her independent mind, we at the HPS feel the country gets the benefit of considering the best candidate for the job, and that is the daughter of the President,” Del Rosario said in a press statement.
The mass oath-taking was led by newly-inducted HPS Pangasinan chapter officials headed by Quiambao as president and Mayor Guico as vice president for finance.
Also elected were Vici Ventanilla, VP for operations; Von Mark Mendoza, VP for external affairs; and Darwina Sampang, secretary and spokesperson.
Estrella, Guico III, and Cojuangco were named members of the board of advisers.
Quiambao zeroed in on the Davao City mayor’s reputation for being “principled” when it comes to making hard decisions pertaining to social services development for the common folk, investment generation and environmental protection, among others. “Mayor Sara has improved Davao City immensely under her watch. We pray that she will still change her mind about not running so she can continue," the mayor added.