Why Inday Sara remains the strongest presidentiable

If the next Philippine presidential elections were to be held today, Inday Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio of PDP-Laban Hugpong Sa Pagbabago, will beat any other candidate, whether it will be Bongbong Marcos of NP, Leni Robredo of LP, Grace Poe of NPC, or Isko Moreno of whatever party. I know that when Inday Sara decides to run, Manny Pacquiao will never dare to oppose her, or he will be knocked out in the first round. But, of course, many things can happen between now and the October deadline for filing one's candidacy, and between now and May 9, 2022, the next presidential derby.

The latest Pulse Asia survey confirms, for the nth time, that the dragon lady mayor of Davao City is really the leading candidate for president, whether you like it or not. Inday Sara garnered no less than 27%, leaving behind Bongbong with only 13%, Grace Poe with 12%, Isko Moreno with 12%, and Pacman with 11%. Leni Robredo is struggling with only 7% and both Lacson and Alan Peter with 2% each. For vice president, Isko Moreno tops the survey with 16%, Pacquiao with 15%, Sara with 15%, Sotto and Marcos with 11% each, Bong Go with 9% and the lowest two at 7% each are Alan Peter Cayetano and former senator Escudero. Inday Sara is a very strong candidate whether she runs for president, vice president or even for senator.

The reasons why the strong-willed favorite daughter of Manong Rody is very popular are the following: first, Inday Sara has a fierce and independent character. She is decisive, courageous, daring, and passionate. The Filipino voters need such a leader at a time like this, when the nation is facing a grave and imminent danger, brought about by a volatile and unpredictable pandemic of unprecedented scope and far-reaching implications. Second, Inday Sara is, in many aspects, too different from Manong Digong. She is gender-sensitive and quite careful and decent in her language and demeanor. She does not speak off the cuff and maintains a more formal and presidential projection of dignity and statesmanship. With due respect to the president, her daughter has a better-looking aura, thanks to the mom, a Zimmerman, former international flight attendant.

Third, the lady mayor does not necessarily adhere to the Duterte doctrine on the West Philippine Sea. Her husband, Mans Carpio is the nephew of both retired senior associate justice Antonio Carpio and lady justice and ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. To my mind, I have a strong feeling that the Carpio couple, mayor Inday and Atty. Mans, must be silently believing deep in their own hearts that Manong Digong's stance concerning the Kalayaan Group of Islands, the Bajo de Masinloc, and the rest of the reefs and shoals in our western borders, is indefensible. Territorial integrity is non-negotiable. We cannot openly declare that we can do nothing to defend our maritime domain because we do not have the warships and the missiles to combat China's bullying incursions into our own territories and Exclusive Economic Zones. Subservience to China is an act of undermining our own sovereignty.

Inday Sara is the strongest candidate and if she plays her cards well, she will be the next president of the republic. She can stand up to Xing Jinping or Vladimir Putin and will know how to charm Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Inday Sara is our Angela Merkel, our Margaret Thatcher, or Indira Gandhi, and Golda Meir. She is our answer to New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern. If Inday runs, she will win in both Visayas and Mindanao 80 to 20 and even get half of the Luzon electorate.

Mark my words, President Duterte will soon realize that the best man for the presidency can indeed be a woman, her own favorite daughter, Inday Sara.