(Mayor Sara Duterte and Gov. Albert Garcia sign alliance pact in the presence of Hugpong candidates. Photo by Ernie Esconde)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – A regional political party from Mindanao and a provincial party from Central Luzon signed an alliance agreement at the jampacked Subic Bay International Convention Center here Sunday to support 14 senatorial candidates in the May 2019 elections.
The political parties are Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) in Region 11, known as the Davao Region, and the Partido Balikatan ng Bataan.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, HNP chair, and Gov. Albert Garcia, Balikatan president, signed the alliance agreement witnessed by Hugpong’s 11 of 14 senatorial candidates and Bataan officials.
Garcia said that upon learning of the regional party Hugpong, they immediately sent an invitation of their desire to enter into an alliance with it.
“We share the same ideals. Gusto natin ng matatag na lipunan, mahusay na liderato or good governance at maunlad na buhay. Gusto nating i-promote ang education, kalusugan at trabaho. Kaya perfect match ang alliance na ating ginagawa,” the governor said.
Duterte for her part thanked Bataan officials for their warm welcome. “Maraming salamat din sa offer of friendship namin sa pakikipag-alyansa sa Hugpong at sa inyong pagsuporta kay Presidente Duterte noong nakaraang election,” she said.
The mayor said they were looking for friends to help senators who will also help the administration of President Duterte.
“Makikiusap kami na magkaroon ng pagkakaisa para sa senatorial lineup para kay Presidente Duterte dahil kailangan niya mga kakampi na magtutulak sa kanyang legislative agenda until 2022,” the Davao City mayor said.
She then introduced the 14 candidates for senator Hugpong will support. They are former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Maguindanao Rep. Dong Mangundadato, former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, former Malacanang spokesman Harry Roque, Senators Cynthia Villar, Koko Pimentel, Sonny Angara, and JV Ejercito, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, journalist Jiggy Manicad, former Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Pia Cayetano, former police director general Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Ramon Revilla, Jr.
Of the 14 candidates, Cayetano, Pimentel and Ejercito were not present.
