The People’s Reform Party (PRP) has officially adopted Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as its vice presidential candidate in the May 9 national and local elections. The party did not say if it will support former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Duterte’s presidential bet under the UniTeam banner.

Lawyer Narciso Santiago, the party president, made the announcement Wednesday. Santiago is the husband of the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

“Ang buong paniniwala namin at ng buong PRP, siya (Duterte) ang karapat-dapat na Vice President ng ating bansa (We and the entire PRP believe that she is the rightful Vice President of our country,” Santiago said.

Sara also graced the inauguration of the party’s campaign headquarters which was the office of the late senator.

“It is an honor, and I am humbled by this opportunity na ibinigay po ng PRP sa atin (given to us by PRP),” Sara said as she attended the inauguration of the party’s campaign headquarters which was the office of the late senator.

The late senator ran for the presidency in 2016 along with now President Rodrigo Duterte. In a presidential debate, Santiago lauded Duterte’s administration as mayor of Davao City. In return, Duterte was also all praises for the senator, even calling her as someone “who could be the next president.”

A few months after the 2019 presidential race, Santiago succumbed to lung cancer.