By Kaela Patricia Gabriel

PHOTO: The Manila Times

Five national political parties including the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago's Political Reform Party (PRP) sought for an alliance with Davao regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) which is led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, a potential presidential candidate for the 2022 elections.

In a press briefing this Wednesday, PRP president Atty. Narciso Santiago Jr., the late senator's husband, expressed full support for the possible presidential bid of Duterte-Carpio as his party believed the Mayor can carry the legacies of former senator Miriam-Defensor Santiago.



“The PRP and the HNP share many things in common. The programs of government of both parties focus on reforms, discipline, leadership, and fighting corruption in government,” Santiago stressed along with the claim Duterte-Carpio can continue Miriam Defensor-Santiago's advocacies and principles.

In 2018, the PRP already formed an alliance with HNP for the 2019 elections and can be renewed in 2022.

“As party President, I want to state that we in the PRP believe that Mayor Sara Duterte can continue the advocacies and principles of former Senator Miriam Santiago. We are hoping that Mayor Sara will heed the strong clamor from the people for her to run for the highest post in the land,” Santiago said.

Among the five political parties that sought for coalition with HNP are Lakas-CMD of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, National Unity Party of Ronaldo Puno, Nacionalista Party of former senate president Manuel Villar Jr., and Pwersa ng Masa Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada.

Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio is yet to decide until October whether she would run for president in the 2022 polls or not.