Sara Duterte back as Hugpong chair

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Friday returned to the Hugpong ng Pagbabago and reassumed the leadership of the regional party she founded.

She rejoined Hugpong just days after she left the organization and pledged allegiance to Lakas-CMD, a national political party. 

"I am happy to be home and back into the fold of our beloved Hugpong ng Pagbabago as its chairperson. The HNP chairmanship I now hold concurrently with the chairmanship of Lakas-CMD with the permission of Lakas," Mayor Sara said in a statement.

"I call on my HNP colleagues to forge on and build the strongest region we can ever be, in devoted service to the Filipino people," she added.

According to HNP secretary general Anthony Del Rosario, Mayor Sara took her oath earlier on Friday.

"Mayor Sara’s re-appointment as our chairperson became possible as both parties’ constitution and by-Laws do not prohibit membership and appointment as officer, since HNP is a regional political party," Del Rosario said. 

Del Rosario said Mayor Sara’s role as concurrent chairperson of both HNP and Lakas-CMD would further strengthen the alliance between the two parties, which will promote strong people-centered development throughout the Davao region and across the country.

"On behalf of the officers and members of HNP throughout Davao region, we welcome back our beloved Mayor Sara. Padayon ta sa paglupad! (Keep flying!)” he said.

On November 11, Mayor Sara joined Lakas-CMD after resigning from Hugpong the previous day.

On November 13, the presidential daughter filed her certificate of candidacy for vice president for Eleksyon 2022 under Lakas-CMD via the substitution route.

She will run in tandem with presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

On Thursday, Mayor Sara was formally elected chairperson of Lakas-CMD. — VBL, GMA News