Barangay officials of Davao City during the mass oath-taking as new members of Mayor Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago on August 17, 2018. MindaNews photo by ANTONIO L. COLINA IV
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/17 August) – Several officials from 182 barangays of Davao City gathered on Friday for the mass oath-taking of the Mayor Sara Duterte-led regional political party Hugpong ng Pagbabago at the SMX Convention Center Davao.
It was the fifth mass oath-taking ceremony in Davao Region for recruits to Hugpong.
The previous ones took place in Compostela Valley on July 19, Davao Oriental on July 1, Davao del Norte on August 3, and Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur on August 6.
The HNP was launched on February 23 with the presidential daughter as chairperson, Davao Occidental Gov. Claude Bautista as president, Davao Oriental Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang as vice president, Davao del Norte Gov. Anthony del Rosario as secretary general, and Compostela Valley Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy as treasurer.
Aside from the local barangay officials, provincial, city, municipal, and barangay officials who pledged allegiance to the HNP also attended the gathering.
Senators Joseph Victor G. Estrada, Cynthia Villar and Sonny Angara attended the oath-taking along with Taguig City 2nd district Rep. Pia Cayetano, Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Zajid G. Mangudadatu, and Bureau of Corrections director general Ronald M.
Dela Rosa.
Cayetano (a former senator), Mangudadatu and dela Rosa are likely contenders for the Senate in next year’s midterm elections.
Last April 11, Hugpong filed before the Commission on Elections a petition for registration as a regional political party. The poll body granted the party with accreditation on June 26. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
