Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte addresses crowd in one of the campaign rallies of Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a Davao-based regional political party.
MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte will be attending the campaign caravan of Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) to support her daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara, Malacañang said on Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this clarification amid speculations that the President might endorse other senatorial candidates apart from those who belong to his political party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
“Iyong Hugpong - dahil iyong anak niya ang nagpundar niyan ‘di ba - parang (It’s because his daughter founded it) in support of the daughter’s help, assisting all the other candidates,” said Panelo in a Palace briefing.
HNP is a popular regional political party in Davao headed by Sara.
Duterte has previously expressed support for three HNP candidates -- former Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, and former journalist Jiggy Manicad – but they are not among those the President has officially endorsed during PDP-Laban campaign rallies.
As PDP-Laban chairman, Duterte is endorsing five PDP-Laban senatorial candidates -- former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, former Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, PDP-Laban president and reelectionist Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, and former Philippine National Police and Bureau of Corrections chief, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
He is also endorsing guest candidates -- reelectionist senators Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Cynthia Villar, former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III, folk singer Freddie Aguilar, Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos.
Panelo said Duterte’s attendance in the HNP campaign rally this week would be a courtesy to the invitation of organizers.
“It means it is a courtesy to the organizers; his presence will be deemed as a courtesy to them, if he was invited to grace the occasion,” Panelo said.
Asked if Duterte will endorse Revilla, Estrada and Manicad, Panelo said it will depend on the ‘specific announcement’ the President will make in the HNP campaign rally on Thursday.
Panelo, however, said the President would still be pleased if those who considered themselves as allies of the President would win despite belonging to a different party.
Duterte’s campaign style
Panelo, meanwhile, defended Duterte’s tendency to attack opposition candidates during PDP-Laban campaign rallies.
“If you will consider the ratings of those he has endorsed, it would seem that it is very effective. Why he is doing it? I think that’s his style. It’s part of the campaign,” Panelo said.
The Presidential Spokesperson added that Duterte also took note of his senate bets’ accomplishments.
“He does highlight the credentials of his endorsed candidates. If you’re listening to his speeches, he tells us that also. And each of them, he spends time telling people about this particular candidate,” Panelo said.
Panelo also pointed out that whoever gets elected in the May 13 elections should strive to be partners in the Duterte administration, regardless of political parties.
“Every election to a President means something to him because those who will be elected in the Congress will have to be partners in the administration of the government,” Panelo said.
“Kaya mas magandang iyong mga naroroon ay iyong tutulong sa kaniya. And iyong mga ini-endorse niya, ang feeling niya roon, (That’s why it’s better if those elected are those he has endorsed and will really help him. And he feels that) these are the people that can help me pursue the goal towards uplifting the lives of our countrymen,” he said. (PNA)
