MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter Sara has joined former President Gloria Arroyo’s political party in what could be a prelude to a run for the nation’s top post.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio early this week abandoned plans to seek reelection, and in a handwritten note resigned from her local party before taking an oath as a member of Lakas-CMD, according to a post on Facebook.
The switch comes days before a Nov. 15 deadline for parties to substitute candidates. Her previous Hugpong ng Pagbabago party is a regional group and can only field candidates for local governments.
The younger Duterte has expressed an openness to run for the country’s top post, and has led opinion polls for the presidency. She has also discussed with former Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos how she can help his presidential bid, ABS-CBN reported on Oct. 24, citing her.
Sara Duterte and Marcos are talking about how they could work together, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported, citing Lakas-CMD party president and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez. In a Facebook post Friday, she asked supporters not to camp out at the Commission on Elections office and to wait for her announcement instead.
