Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s PRP backs Sara Duterte’s potential presidential run

The PRP holds a press briefing in Edsa Shangri-La Hotel (right to left: Rey Anthony David Jr., Harry Roque, Narciso Santiago, and Nueva Ecija 4th district Congresswoman Maricel Natividad-Nagaño)

MANILA, Philippines — The late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago may no longer be around, but her political party is throwing its “full support” behind the potential presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of her erstwhile rival for the presidency in 2016.

The People’s Reform Party (PRP), now chaired by the feisty senator’s husband, Atty. Narciso Santiago said the party “believe(s) that Mayor Sara Duterte can continue the advocacies and principles of former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.”

“The People’s Reform Party founded by the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, will give its full support to the presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio if she decides to run for president the 2022 national elections,” said Santiago in a press briefing at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel.

PRP, which the late senator founded, also expressed support for the potential senatorial candidacy next year of its party member, President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque.

Roque, who was present during the briefing, expressed the belief Duterte-Carpio can continue Defensor-Santiago’s legacy.

“It just so happened that she’s also a woman, but I think the principles for which you (Defensor-Santiago) lived for continue to be alive and well in the person of Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio,” said Roque.

According to the PRP president, the party last teamed up with Duterte-Carpio’s regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, on December 3, 2018, after signing an alliance agreement for the 2019 elections.

This alliance may be renewed for the 2022 elections if Duterte-Carpio decides to run, Santiago said.

During the 2016 national elections, Senator Defensor-Santiago again filed for candidacy for the presidency and was pitted against Duterte, who eventually emerged as the winner after gaining 16 million votes.

In September 2016, Defensor-Santiago passed away after battling lung cancer. She was 71.

EDV