Supporters urge Sara Duterte to run for President in Eleksyon 2022

Supporters of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Monday urged her to go for the presidency in Eleksyon 2022.

They said she would be a better version of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, if she wins.

Hugpong Para kay Sara (HPS) member Anthony del Rosario, who also serves as spokesperson of Hugpong ng Pagbabago led by Mayor Sara, made the comments during the group's launch. HPS describes itself as a group composed of people from all walks of life who want Mayor Sara to run for President in Eleksyon 2022.

"Hindi porke anak siya ng Presidente eh lahat ng ginagawa ng Presidente ay sang-ayon siya (Even if she is the daughter of the President, it does not mean she agrees with the President all the time)," del Rosario said.

"She has an independent mind. She makes her decision. She is version 2.0, may halo po itong Zimmerman. 'Pag Duterte at Zimmerman, mas maganda ang produkto (She is also a Zimmerman. When you combine a Zimmerman and Duterte, you get a better product)," del Rosario added.

He was referring to Elizabeth Zimmerman, Mayor Sara's mother and former wife of President Duterte. 

"Mayor Sara has a gentle heart for her constituents, especially the common folk," del Rosario pointed out.

"President Duterte started good programs, but that is not to say there is nothing to be improved. No government is perfect," HPS spokesperson and Bagong Henerasyon party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy added. 

Mayor Sara, a lawyer like her father, earlier said she will not run for a national post in Eleksyon 2022 because her father will run for Vice President.

HPS, however, is confident that her decision can still change.

"This movement is one step to show her that there are many people who believe she is the best person for the job," Herrera said.

Herrera said they have around 10,000 members so far.

During the launch, people from Cagayan, Marikina City, Navotas City, Pasig City and Zamboanga del Norte took their oaths as HPS members.

HPS is chaired by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco while other prominent members include former Dangerous Drugs Board chief Dionisio Santiago, ex-Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, University of the Philippines professor Clarita Carlos, and House Appropriations panel chair Eric Yap.

Then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also said in 2015 that he is not running for the 2016 polls but he ultimately changed his mind and filed for candidacy as a substitute in November 2015. —KG, GMA News