Senatorial hopefuls share Hong Kong stage with Duterte

HONG KONG – Some personalities who are reportedly eyeing a Senate run got a foretaste of campaigning for the 2019 midterm polls during President Duterte’s meeting with the Filipino community here the other night.

Speaking before the Filipino community, the President called his longtime aide Christopher Go his “favorite senator.” Some supporters of Go are asking him to run but the presidential aide has not made a decision. Go, however, has been sending photos and videos of himself to reporters, fueling speculation that he is keen on running for the Senate. 

Even before Duterte’s arrival, the event showed the key elements of a sortie: yelling supporters, banners, enthusiastic introductions and prominent personalities highlighting their achievements.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr., presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos were given their moment to shine as each of them took the stage to speak before about 2,500 Filipinos. 

In his speech, Bello praised the overseas Filipino workers’ determination to improve the lives of their families and credited them for their dollar remittances that keep the Philippine economy afloat. 

Roque talked about the bills he supported when he was still in Congress and bashed media outlets South China Morning Post, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Rappler for writing negative stories about Duterte. He even asked the audience to jeer at the news organizations and to defend Duterte from his critics. 

Cayetano talked about her legislative accomplishments and her pet bills including the legalization of divorce, which is being opposed by the Roman Catholic Church, the religious group of more than 80 percent of Filipinos.

Marcos urged Filipinos here to support the Duterte administration and to spread good news about the government through social networking sites.

Tolentino talked about “hashtag second chance” as he mentioned his electoral defeat during the 2016 senatorial race. Tolentino, who served as Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman during the previous administration, ranked 13th among the senatorial candidates. 

Other personalities, who are said to be considering running for senator, were also present during the event but did not deliver speeches. However, Duterte revealed or implied that they are interested to pursue a senatorial bid. 

The President also claimed that controversial Presidential Communications Operations Office assistant secretary Mocha Uson wants to become a senator. 

“Mocha, I think, is running for senator,” Duterte said, drawing cheers from the Filipino community. 

Uson, who has been accused of using her blog to spread fake news and to malign the President’s critics, has not reacted to Duterte’s remarks as of press time.

For his part,  Rep. Gary Alejano of party-list group Magdalo yesterday labeled Duterte’s “working visit” as a “junket.”

“It was just a wasteful personal junket or wining and dining for himself, his family members and his large entourage. It was a mere waste of taxpayers’ money,” he said.

He said the President did not even meet with any Hong Kong official.

Duterte brought a large entourage that included outgoing Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, Alejano added.

Alejano pointed out that aside from addressing Filipino workers in Hong Kong, Duterte accomplished nothing in his visit.

Alejano said it was ironic for the President to go on junkets and to bring large groups in his overseas trips when he has fired several officials for unnecessarily going abroad.

“He has sacked some officials for overseas junkets or trips. But he has done it himself just now in Hong Kong with his family members and a large entourage, dining and sightseeing in that city, presumably with taxpayers paying for the considerable costs,” he said. 

“Isn’t this hypocrisy in the highest order?” he asked.

He said the money spent by Duterte and his entourage could have been better used for the procurement of palay from farmers.

As this developed, the President said he was unsure if his daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio would be accompanying him in future trips abroad, after she joined him at the recent  Boao Forum on Asia in Hainan.

The President said Sara joined him at the Boao Forum because she was invited.

“She went there per invitation ‘yan. I don’t know about other trips coming along my way during my term whether or not they would allow, maybe invite my family, my friends like you,” the President told The STAR. 

Sara and her son Stingray also joined the President when he met with overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong. – With Jess Diaz, Edith Regalado