Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. have a chat at the house of Tingog Sinirangan party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez in Maria Luisa Subdivision, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City on October 23, 2021. They were among guests at the birthday party of Romualdez, wife of Bongbong’s cousin, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez. (PHOTO COURTESY OF BBM 2022-CEBU)
MANILA, Philippines — Lakas CMD president and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez does not see any conflict should there be a face-off for the presidency between his party mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and his cousin, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong Marcos” as the two are “good friends.”
Romualdez said he is “very glad” to be in an “enviable position where we have these young leaders who are ready eager and able to stick in public service.”
“I don’t foresee a conflict. Mayor Sara and Senator Bongbong Marcos are good friends. They’ve been communicating. They’ve been in dialogue. I don’t see them having a conflict, therefore I don’t foresee myself getting caught in the middle,” Romualdez said in an interview with reporters.
“Rather, if we can be part of putting her under Lakas [and] in alliance with other parties with similar thoughts and vision of nation-building then I will be lucky and honored to be a small part of this process. But then again, we have to wait for what will happen over the weekend but I’m sure this would resolve itself very positively,” he added.
Marcos has filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for the presidency in next year’s elections.
Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio initially filed her COC for Davao City mayor, insisting that she would not vie for a national post.
She, however, later withdrew her candidacy and left her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).
Just hours after quitting HNP, she joined Lakas – CMD, fueling talks that she would vie for the presidency or vice presidency.
Romualdez said Duterte-Carpio’s choice will most likely be known over the weekend.
Should Duterte-Carpio vie for the presidency, this puts Romualdez in a tricky position since Marcos is his cousin.
There are, however, speculations that Duterte-Carpio and Marcos may run as a tandem—but who runs for which position remains to be seen.
Romualdez has said that Lakas CMD would “obviously want to have highest position”, but said that they would respect the candidates’ decision.