Hugpong forges alliance with Quezon City party

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) regional party has formally forged an alliance with Quezon City’s local Serbisyo sa Bayan Party (SBP) for next year’s midterm elections.

The SBP, headed by Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, yesterday pledged its support to the regional party and the senatorial candidates endorsed by HNP.

HNP had endorsed 14 senatorial bets for next year’s polls, among them re-electionist senators Koko Pimentel, Cynthia Villar and Sonny Angara, brothers JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada, former presidential aide Bong Go, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Pia Cayetano and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa.

Also included in the lineup are Zajid Mangudadatu, Francis Tolentino, Jiggy Manicad, Ilocos Gov. Imee Marcos and Bong Revilla. 

Carpio said they will support the candidacies of the Estrada-Ejercito brothers, even if they are feuding. 

“Nag-aaway po sila. Tulungan natin silang magkabati (They’re fighting, let’s help them reconcile),” Carpio joked as she referred to the ongoing feud between the brothers following the announcements of their respective Senate bids. 

Jinggoy Estrada said that he is still open to reconcile with his brother JV.

“I have no qualms and bitterness. The reconciliation is very much welcome,” Estrada said.

Estrada said he is also willing to help JV in his campaign.

“But he rejected it,” he said.

Carpio said there is a need to forge alliances with local parties as HNP is only registered as a regional party by the Commission on Elections. 

She told reporters that local alliances are “very important,” since their reach is only the Davao region. This is why they are going around and forging alliances because they need the help of leaders from other regions.

The presidential daughter said she is open to forging alliances with more national and local parties to help push for its senatorial candidates in the 2019 elections. 

Several national parties have joined forces with the HNP, including the Nacionalista Party, National Unity Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition and recently the Lakas-CMD party. 

Carpio said some of the HNP officers have been urging her to make Hugpong a national party but she maintained that they would be more sustainable if it remains regional. 

For Belmonte, the alliance between her own local party SBP and the HNP underscores the commitment to the same advocacies and goals towards development. 

Belmonte, who is running for mayor of Quezon City, said the partnership between local parties would be more fitting to address local issues and problems. 

The QC official said they have committed to support eight HNP candidates and have the freedom to choose other candidates for the remaining seats. –  With Jose Rodel Clapano