Lakas-CMD won’t be fielding its own presidential candidate in 2022 and will instead be “adopting” a candidate to run alongside its vice presidential candidate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. 

Party chairman Senator Bong Revilla made the announcement on Saturday, November 13, shortly after Duterte officially joined the vice presidential race via substitution. Duterte filed via a representative at the Commission on Elections office in Manila. 

“Many continue to signify their intention to join Lakas in support of the mayor’ vice presidential run, and we are continuously expanding our membership. The party is mobilizing its full machinery to back Inday Sara’s candidacy towards ensuring her victory,” said Revilla, who witnessed Duterte’s oath-taking as the newest Lakas member on Thursday, November 11 – the same day the Davao City mayor stood as principal sponsor in his daughter’s wedding. 

He also hinted at a “dream tandem” that he said would lead the country as it tries to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Prior to Revilla’s statement, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) announced that it had officially “adopted” Duterte as its standard-bearer Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s vice presidential candidate. Lakas-CMD said as of Saturday, it did not have an existing alliance with PFP. 

But Lakas-CMD president Majority Leader Martin Romualdez earlier said the party was in talks with various political parties for 2022, including Marcos’ PFP. Marcos and Romualdez are cousins. 

Duterte’s filing of candidacy via withdrawal puts an end to months of speculation that she would be seeking a national post in 2022. Duterte had long insisted that she would seek reelection in Davao City, which she did until she withdrew that candidacy on November 9. 

Duterte, President Rodrigo Duterte’s eldest daughter, has led early presidential preference surveys. Her own father had been very open in hoping that Sara would run for president. – Rappler.com