Lakas-CMD to solidify alliance with Inday Sara’s HNP – Romualdez

House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez on alliance with Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago: “We have a close relationship and we are looking forward to strengthening it further as we look towards the 2022 elections.”

MANILA, Philippines — The Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party will strengthen its alliance with Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) as the 2022 national elections draw near, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said Thursday.

Romualdez, the president of Lakas-CMD, made the remark amid talks of a possible partnership between him and Duterte-Carpio, the leader of HNP, in next year’s elections.

“Unang-una, matagal ng meron kaming alliance ( In the first place, we have a long-standing alliance) between HNP and Lakas and started even before the 2019 elections and right now as the Majority Leader, I work closely with the HNP members in the House,” Romualdez said in an online interview.

“We have a close relationship and we are looking forward to strengthening it further as we look towards the 2022 elections, kumbaga hindi kami maghihiwalay (it’s as if we’d never part), in fact, we will strengthen our alliance and we will formalize that very soon, at a proper time and what is most mutually convenient to both parties,” he added.

In spite of this, Romuladez said it is too early to speculate about the partnership, especially that both he and Duterte-Carpio have confirmed they would run for the upcoming presidential and vice presidential elections.

“Unang-una, si Mayor Inday Sara, ayaw natin unahan yan kasi (First off, we don’t want to press ahead because) she has to make her final decision on the matter but definitely Mayor Inday Sara, her brand of leadership, pwede talaga sa (she’s qualified for the) national [level],” Romualdez said.

“Kaya yung tanong medyo premature pa ata (It’s a bit early to ask)and I have not even decided also myself on a national run but definitely it is something that we will be considering and making consultations with our partymates and our constituency,” he added.

To recall, Romualdez earlier visited Duterte-Carpio in Davao City to greet the mayor on her birthday.

Romualdez said the meeting was only to express his greeting for Duterte-Carpio.

Apparently, there have been some murmurs about a possible alliance between the two after President Rodrigo Duterte, Duterte-Carpio’s father, said he wouldn’t run for vice president in the 2022 elections should Romualdez run.

Duterte said he made the promise to Romualdez when he faced off against several others for the position of House speaker in 2020 and the lawmaker was a “serious contender for the job.”

Meanwhile, Romualdez also confirmed the meeting between him, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and siblings senator Imee Marcos and former senator Bongbong Marcos.

Romualdez said the meeting, which happened on Monday, June 14, “as just another get-together and catching up and exchanges of ideas and I guess soliciting some advice.”

“I think the overall theme of the lunch discussion was that Senator Imee was asking for some advice and there were some exchanges updating on what are the plans of everyone there,” Romualdez said.

“It was a very cordial, very pleasant lunch and I think Senator Imee and former senator Bongbong were also very appreciative and grateful for all the support that President GMA has extended to them in their national runs by helping not just in Pampanga but in Central Luzon for their respective candidacies,” he added.

READ: Duterte says he will not run for VP if Romualdez vies for same post

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