Sara Duterte still enjoys strong support from Bohol citizen’s group

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

TAGBILARAN CITY — A Bohol-based citizen’s movement identified with President Duterte on Thursday reiterated that it would only support Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for president.

Alyansang Bol-anon para sa Kausaban (ABAKA) released a statement after Duterte-Carpio said she would no longer seek a national post after her father decided to run for vice president.

“The Alyansang Bol-anon Alang sa Kausaban (ABAKA) remains committed to Mayor Sara Duterte despite her pronouncement that she is no longer running,” read the statement of ABAKA signed by its chairman Norris Oculam.

“ABAKA did not declare its support for Mayor Inday because she said she was running. ABAKA declared its commitment to her because it believes she fits the bill as far as its advocacy against illegal drugs, corruption and criminality is concerned,” it added.

ABAKA said it was able to sustain the call for Duterte-Carpio to run for president for two years now, believing that she has proven her intellect, skills, character, and creativity needed to govern a nation of 109 million in a time of the pandemic.

It also supported the plan of President Duterte to run for vice president in the 2022 elections, saying  “President Duterte will be the best vice-president the Philippines will see in our lifetime.”

ABAKA, which has 50,000 members worldwide, was created in 2018 as a citizens’ response to rally support for President Duterte and his campaign against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.