Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 16) — Lakas-CMD President Martin Romualdez is eyeing the inclusion of President Rodrigo Duterte in their political party’s Senate slate for next year’s polls.
Lakas-CMD was one of the major political parties that helped elect Duterte to the presidency in 2016, Romualdez noted.
“With President Duterte’s filing of candidacy for senator in 2022 election, it will be my honor, as Lakas-CMD President, to nominate his name for inclusion in the list of senatorial candidates to be adopted by the party,” the House majority leader said Tuesday in a statement.
The political party’s national executive committee is currently finalizing the list of 12 aspiring candidates for senator it will support in the 2022 elections, and formally announce the names at the “soonest time possible,” Romualdez added.
On Monday, lawyer Melchor Aranas filed the President’s certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator as a substitute for Mona Liza Visorde of Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan.
Over the weekend, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Duterte will run for vice president, the same position being sought by his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. However, the President’s spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte will never pit himself against his daughter, who is also the vice presidential bet of Lakas-CMD.
