ALLIANCE. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, chair of Hugpong ng Pagbabago and Bataan Governor Albert Garcia, president of Partido Balikatan ng Bataan, sign an alliance agreement witnessed by some senatorial candidates and local officials at the Subic Bay International Convention Center on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. (Photo by Ernie Esconde)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- A regional political party from Mindanao and a provincial party from Central Luzon forged an agreement of alliance here Sunday to support 14 senatorial candidates in the May 2019 elections.
The political parties are Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) in Region 11 (Davao Region) and the Partido Balikatan ng Bataan.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, HNP chair, and Bataan Governor Albert Garcia, Balikatan president, signed the alliance agreement at the jampacked Subic Bay International Convention Center here, witnessed by 11 of 14 senatorial candidates of Hugpong 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 ipromote ang education, kalusugan at trabaho. Kaya perfect match ang alliance na ating ginagawa (We want a strong society, good leadership or good governance and prosperous life. We want to promote education, and employment. That’s why the alliance we are doing is perfect match),” 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 (Thank very much to the offer of friendship for the alliance with Hugpong and to your support to President Duterte during the last elections),” 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 (We would like to appeal to have cooperation for the senatorial lineup for President Duterte because he needs allies that will push for his legislative agenda until 2022),” the Davao City mayor said.
She then introduced the 14 candidates for senator that Hugpong will support.
They are former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Maguindanao Rep. Dong Mangundadatu, former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, former Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque, Senators Cynthia Villar, Coco 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.
Dela Rosa and Bacoor (Cavite) Mayor Lani Mercado, representing husband Bong Revilla, sang to the delight of the big crowd. (PNA)
