‘PDP-Laban losing members to Hugpong ng Pagbabago’

MANILA, Philippines — The rise of the regional party created by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has severely affected the status of the ruling PDP-Laban, according to a former lawmaker identified with the opposition Liberal Party (LP).

Speaking to “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News aired on Wednesday, former Akbayan representative Barry Gutierrez said allies of former president Benigno Aquino III are not concerned with the increasing membership of the newly created party.

“It is more accurate to say that PDP Laban is losing more people to Hugpong (ng Pagbabago),” said Gutierrez, who also serves as spokesman of Vice President Leni Robredo. 

“The hemorrhaging of LP members started at the start of the Duterte administration, the typical transfer to the ruling party, at the time it was PDP. Hugpong (HNP) has come into the picture, now its PDP that is getting its former members poached by the new party,” he added.

Gutierrez said the former ruling party is talking with other parties for a possible coalition slate in next year’s midterm polls.

“The direction really is to have as broad a coalition as possible. It will definitely not just be the Liberal Party, there are conversations going on with the other groups… Obviously we’re starting with groups that have taken a position critical of the policies of the Duterte administration,” he said.

Gutierrez did not identify which parties the LP are currently in talks with, although the selection of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Speaker has resulted in a coalition between the LP and Makabayan blocs at the House of Representatives.

Gutierrez said the position on the policies of the Duterte administration would be the dividing line in next year’s elections.

“It’s definitely not going to be an exclusive slate to the LP. Not simply because LP might not have enough candidates, but also because we want to present that this is not just between LP and PDP or Hugpong or whatever it is that the President represents by way of a party,” Gutierrez said.

“This is really a broad coalition of like-minded individuals who might not necessarily agree on some point, but who all agreed that we need some kind of balance in 2019 against what the administration has been pushing,” he added.

Gutierrez was among those who were earlier floated as possible senatorial candidates of the LP next year.

Other names include reelectionist Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, human rights lawyer and Free Legal Assistance Group chairman Jose Manuel Diokno, former Quezon representative and LP executive Lorenzo Tañada III, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and actress Agot Isidro.

Ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and former senator and LP presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II were also among those being convinced by some groups to run for the Senate.

Carpio, on the other hand, endorsed the senatorial candidacy of her maternal cousin, Davao Rep. Karlo Nograles, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and former senator Jinggoy Estrada.

Carpio joined her father President Duterte in yesterday’s celebration of the 49th Charter Day of Mandaue City, where key national and local government officials were among those who attended.  – With Delon Porcalla