Duterte joining Sara’s regional party

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  —  As the party that propelled him to the presidency struggles with disunity, President Duterte takes his oath today as a member of what is being branded as a regional party organized by his daughter Sara.

President Duterte, chairman of the PDP-Laban, is taking his oath today as member of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) at the SMX Convention Center here at SM Lanang Premiere.

The President’s joining HNP is expected to strengthen the regional grouping, which on Monday forged alliances with three major national political parties and six local groups.

Today’s event here will also signal the merging of the HNP with the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, which the President founded when he was still Davao City mayor.

The Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod has long been the President’s party, which fielded his candidates for local posts in Davao City through the years. Members of the Hugpong sa Tawong – now mostly occupying local posts – are expected to join the HNP as well.

As incumbent mayor, Sara concurrently heads the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod.

The Commission on Elections granted HNP a “regional party” status in June.

“HNP does not intend to recruit members of PDP-Laban or other national political parties,” Sara said.

She explained that while the party has supporters outside the Davao Region, they have been advised to form their own local parties or join other allied national parties.

Invited to the HNP event today are seven possible administration senatorial candidates for next year’s midterm polls – Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Senators Cynthia Villar and Joseph Victor Ejercito, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, former Philippine National Police chief Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa and Maguindanao 2nd district Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu.

On Monday, HNP received a commitment of support from Villar of the  Nacionalista Party, Marcos of the Ilocano Timpuyog (#IT) Nationalista Party, Gov. Lilia Pineda for Kambilan of Pampanga and Nadya Emano-Elipe for Padayon Pilipino of Misamis Oriental.

Also forming alliance with HNP are the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), National Unity Party (NUP), Alyansa Bol-anon Alang sa Kausaban (ABAKA) of Bohol and the Aggrupation of Party for Progress (APP) of the first district of Zamboanga del Norte.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte also linked up with NHP representing Serbisyo sa Bayan Party (SBP).

Aside from Sara, the other founding officers of HNP are Governors Tyrone Uy, Nelson Dayanghirang, Claude Bautista and Anthony del Rosario of Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental and Davao del Norte, respectively.

Sara also said HNP is willing to help the fractured PDP-Laban consolidate.

“If there is anything that HNP can do to help PDP-Laban, our group is ready to assist them,” she said in a statement.

“HNP respects the history, experience and the wisdom of the PDP-Laban Party. HNP finds it truly unfortunate that PDP-Laban is embroiled in internal problem and hopes that competing party members resolve their differences,” the presidential daughter added.

The President earlier gave the two feuding factions in the PDP-Laban until next month to resolve their differences or go their separate ways. He issued the warning at the first anniversary celebration of PDP-Laban Cares, the social responsibility arm of the party, at the GSIS Building in Parañaque the other night.

The two PDP-Laban factions involve the group of former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and that of the old party stalwarts headed by lawyer Rogelio Garcia. 

In remarks at the PDP Laban Cares event, Duterte stressed the need for party unity so it could help his administration carry out promised reforms.

“As we [undergo] reforms in this administration, our unity is now more important than ever. I therefore ask the continued support of PDP-Laban and its partners in creating practical solutions to address the root cause of our nation’s problems,” he said.

“Let us remain committed to the party’s vision of liberating our people from the clutches of poverty, conflict, crime, illegal drugs and corruption through the promotion of justice, equality and good governance,” he said.

“Together, let us become instruments of real change in society by advancing the PDP-Laban’s core agenda of federalism, preferential policy for the poor and the marginalized, religious tolerance and equal opportunity for all,” he said.

“Hand in hand, let us uphold the concept of bayanihan as we improve the lives of our countrymen, strengthen the foundations of a more progressive tomorrow,” Duterte added. 

Meanwhile,  Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she sees Sara playing an important role in the national scene in the near future.

“I think Mayor Sara Duterte will be an important national figure,” Arroyo said in an interview in her residence in La Vista, Quezon City.

She said she agreed with the observation of Sen. Panfilo Lacson that Sara is a rising political star.

“If you look at Philippine history, the children of presidents have played a prominent role in national political life, I’m one example,” she said.

Arroyo cited her successor, former president Benigno Aquino III, who is the son of former president Corazon Aquino; the children of former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada – Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito and former senator Jinggoy Estrada – and former interior secretary Mar Roxas, who is a descendant of the late president Manuel Roxas.  –  Paolo Romero