Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Contributed photo
MANILA, Philippines — Hugpong Para kay Sara (HPS) Chairman and former Davao Del Norte Governor Anthony Del Rosario said no administration is perfect but he sees the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte exiting with a lot of solid accomplishments in terms of policies and projects.
Thus the HPS, a citizen’s movement, sees a continuity of what Del Rosario calls a true leadership for the people.
Del Rosario said, “Our objectives are clear: continue the excellent programs; to improve on the good ones; and to stop the bad ones.
The HPS, as a civic organization, was launched on September 13, 2021, proving that the initiative to urge Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to run for president has not ceased.
The mayor of Davao has repeatedly said she is not seeking the presidency.
HPS believes there is time for President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his intention to run for vice president with the growing support for Mayor Sara for the presidency
The official launching of HPS via online aims to influence a change of mind for Mayor Sara.
The virtual launch began with a twin video package from Zamboanga Del Norte headed by former congressman Seth Fredrick “Bullet” Jalosjos showing part of Mindanao’s support for a fellow individual who hails from Mindanao. Jalosjos said the group sees Mayor Sara as the only one who can strongly lead the country in the next six years.
“Run Sara, Run!” civic groups from Dapitan and Dipolog shouted during the launching.
The kickoff also served as an oath-taking ceremony for the officers and volunteers of HPS from different cities and provinces nationwide.
Del Rosario said that Mayor Sara’s seemingly distant attitude toward running for the presidency actually shows her discernment. He said the HPS will give her all the support she needs should she change her mind.
Del Rosario noted that Mayor Sara’s lead in all the recent presidential surveys cannot be disregarded.
HPS president Allan Yap said that the Mayor of Davao City is the most qualified of all the names that are considered for the presidency.
HPS secretary-general Bernadette Herrera on the other hand said they are not allied with traditional politicians and that most of their members are ordinary citizens who believe in Sara Duterte.
The over-all theme of the HPS launch focuses on Mayor Sara as the “eagle of hope,” and the only one who can strongly continue the fight against the pandemic, problems in criminality and poverty.
Audio and video clips of President Rodrigo Duterte was also part of the virtual launch of HPS zeroing on the message of continuity that Del Rosario spoke of.
Former Tourism Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre served as the master of ceremony for the virtual launch of HPS. Alegre handles the HPS media and communications matters.
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