Virtual citizens’ movement seeks to prod sara to run for president

aLawmaker on Sunday said a “growing think-tank” movement to support the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Sara “Inday” Duterte would be launched on September 12.

Deputy Speaker and Bagong Henerasyon party list Rep. Bernadette Herrera said the Hugpong Para ka Sara (HPS) to prod Mayor Sara into throwing her hat into the presidential derby “is growing, in large part, because of her strong, independent personality.”

“We’ve set up a new citizens movement, called the Hugpong Para ka Sara, and it is snowballing through the regions as people from all sectors, walks of life, and political inclinations are joining it as we go along,” said Herrera.

“the interesting thing about this movement is that a lot of people who are jumping into the bandwagon were not supporters of Mayor Sara in the beginning, but are gradually attracted by her quiet, yet potent character which symbolizes for them, genuine change,” said Herrera, who is also the HPS spokesperson.

Herrera said the HPS functions for now as a “think-tank” run by a virtual citizens movement composed of the business sector, local communities, academe, local government and non-government organizations, environmental groups, among others. Its immediate goal: Provide the Davao City Mayor adequate data from the grassroots level upon which she can base her decision whether to run for President in 2022, or not.

“We will support Mayor Sara if she decides to run for President, and will support as well any decision of the Duterte family should the Davao chief executive decide not to,” she said.

“We urge all supporters to likewise respect her process. Rest assured that whatever her final decision may be, the welfare of our kababayans [countrymen] will be of her utmost concern,” she added.

Herrera said the HPS would have its official launch on September 12.

according to Herrera the political phenomenon that is Duterte is showing signs of “building momentum.”

“She continues to lead in all surveys among ordinary Filipinos polled on whom they want as their next President in 2022,” she said.