BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Calls for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to run for president have been gathering steam in Negros Occidental, with at least a dozen city and municipal mayors calling for her to join the race for the country’s top seat in the May 2022 elections.
The shared sentiment of 12 local chief executives was revealed by Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, who met and shared their concerns with him.
They said “We want Sara to run because we want continuity,” Panelo said.
He also said he was joined by former Negros Occidental register of deeds Romulo Gonzaga, provincial chairman of “Run Sara Run”, as well as Sara All convenor Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson, Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco, San Enrique Mayor Jilson Tubillara, Pontevedra Mayor Jose Maria Alonso, and Hinobaan Mayor Ernesto Estrao.
Silay City Mayor Mark Golez, Hinigaran Mayor Nadie Arceo and La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan have also aired their support to calls for the Davao City mayor to run for president.
Panelo said that he was the first one who had pushed the President’s daughter to run for president as early as three and a half years ago.
“I started the Sara Duterte for president movement,” he said.
He added that with the younger Duterte’s consistent high survey ratings, he is confident of her victory in next year’s polls.*
