DAVAO CITY -- The comment of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Hugpong ng Pagbabago regional party does not sit well with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
On Thursday, Duterte-Carpio blasted Alvarez' comment against her forging with four Davao governors for Hugpong ng Pagbabago, which will be formally launched Friday, February 23, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel here.
The mayor even wished Alvarez would be unseated as House Speaker as "this country would be better if Alvarez is not the Speaker."
"President Duterte will be stronger if Alvarez is not with him," she added.
"I would like everyone to know, including the Speaker of the House, that the unity I forged with the four governors of Region 11 has the blessing of President Rodrigo Duterte," she said in a statement released through the Hugpong ng Pagbabago on Thursday.
Duterte-Carpio said that even the word Hugpong in the regional party's name has the President’s approval. President Duterte has a local political party called Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod.
She bared that President Duterte also knew she will not join PDP Laban. The mayor said it was last year that Alvarez invited her to be a member of PDP Laban.
"The Speaker's latest media statement that he respects the creation of Hugpong ng Pagbabago or that the unity is a non-issue, was unfortunately betrayed by his comment on political dynasties," she said.
She added, "If the Speaker is attacking our effort to do something significant and timely for Region 11, and reducing it as a product of political dynasties, I suggest he pass the Anti-Political Dynasty Law."
In an interview with reporters, Duterte-Carpio reminded Alvarez he was a product of the political dynasty of the Floirendos.
Before the release of the official statement, the mayor already blasted Alvarez on her Instagram.
She said, "Ano sabi mo in a crowd, President iba siya Speaker ako, (What did you say in a crowd, President is different, I am a Speaker), I can always impeach him!" And you call me opposition? Somebody should really tell the President about the truth."
In another message on Instagram, the mayor said, "Kung asshole ka (If you are an asshole) in Congress, don't bring that to Davao, leave it in Manila. Somebody should tell the President what you are doing. How dare you call me part of the opposition. Kapal ng mukha mo. You messed with the wrong girl."
In the same interview, the mayor further urged members of the House of Representatives not to keep quiet and speak out the truth about what is happening in Congress.
Duterte-Carpio admitted she had been hearing remarks that Alvarez is allegedly not a good leader and people not happy with his direction as speaker.
When she arrived at the City Peace and Order Council meeting Thursday afternoon at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, the mayor asked the indulgence of the members for being late because of Alvarez.
"He is an asshole," she quipped before calling the meeting to order.
Alvarez's statement stemmed from the report about the launching of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago which Duterte-Carpio is forming with Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista, Davao del Norte Gov. Antonio del Rosario, Compostela Valley Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy, and Davao Oriental Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang.
Hugpong is holding its General assembly on Friday, February 23, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel with around 500 expected members in attendance. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
