‘No one can force Mayor Sara to run for president’ – Hugpong exec

Photo courtesy of Mayor Inday Sara Duterte Facebook Page

MANILA, Philippines — Aware of outside pressures on Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to run for president, former Davao Del Norte governor and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) Secretary-General Anthony Del Rosario knew for sure that such a decision cannot be forced.

Will she do it for a family member?

“She won’t. It’s really her own decision. And that is why even we at HNP early on, she told us, we cannot force her. Her words, ‘Do not force me because I’m not ready yet to make a decision. You just have to wait until I’m ready’,” Del Rosario said.

HNP’s decision process for the 2022 elections starts with Duterte-Carpio deciding about whether or not she would seek the presidency.

“We accept her for that because that’s really how she is. That’s her character. So that’s really how she is, her characteristic, and I’ve seen it time and time again when I work with her,” the HNP official said.

Del Rosario revealed that the HNP has not discussed yet who could be Duterte-Carpio’s running mate or vice president.

“Again, as I’ve said, HNP’s process of selecting the tandem will start if and when she makes a definitive decision,” Del Rosario adds.

In an earlier statement, HNP said: “Notwithstanding her unconditional love for her father, our Chairperson, Mayor Sara, reiterated once again to HNP that she will make her own decision on the matter of her run for the presidency at her own time.”

“She likewise informed HNP that her decision on the matter will be her own, and will never be based on what other people or other political parties want, do or say.,” it added.