DIGOS CITY (MindaNews / 16 April) – Davao City’s Mayor Sara Duterte endorsed the senatorial bets of Hupong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party during the provincial rally at Rizal Park here but failed to mention former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, the President of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP) who is seeking a second term.
“Apparently nakalimtan na” (apparently she forgot), Jefry Tupas, Davao City Information Officer told MindaNews. He said sometimes the names of candidates are inadvertently not mentioned, especially when they are not in the sorties.
Pimentel was not in the sortie and did not send a representative.
Mayor Sara Duterte (3rdfrom left) raises the hands of candidates running for local posts under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago party at a campaign sortie in Digos City on Tuesday, 16 April 2019. Also in the photo is journalist Jiggy Manicad (left). Manicad and former Senator Bong Revilla, were the only senatorial candidates present at the rally. Others sent representatives. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO
The HNP, a regional party founded by Mayor Duterte is endorsing 13 candidates, including Pimentel, for the 12 Senate seats up for election on May 13.
In her 31-minute speech, the Presidential daughter endorsed 12 senatorial candidates in this order: former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, former Philippine National Police Director-General Ronald dela Rosa, former Presidential Adviser Francis Tolentino, reelectionist senator Sonny Angara, returning senator Pia Cayetano, reelectionist senator JV Ejercito, returning Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Maguindanao 2nd district Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, journalist Jiggy Manicad, returning senator Bong Revilla and reelectionist senator Cynthia Villar.
Only Revilla and Manicad were present at the afternoon rally attended by candidates for the provincial, city and municipal posts, and their supporters from the Digos City and nine towns. Tolentino, Estrada, Mangudadatu sent representatives. Angara’s and Dela Rosa’s representatives arrived late, after Mayor Duterte had delivered her speech.
Digos City Mayor Jojo Peñas (right) who is running for Governor of Davao del Sur talks to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, chair of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago regional party during its campaign sortie in Digos City on Tuesday, 16 April 2019. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO
In endorsing her senatorial candidates, Mayor Duterte gave a brief description of each followed by their proposed “balaod para kay President Duterte” (law for President Duterte) although in some instances the laws previously passed by the former senators she mentioned as “balaod para kay President Duterte” like Estrada’s Kasambahay law.
Mayor Duterte added, after endorsing Villar that the President has another candidate – Inday Sara (the mayor’s nickname).
The incumbent Davao City mayor is seeking reelection in the May polls. She served as Vice Mayor to her father from 2007 to 2010 and was mayor from 2010 to 2013 with her father as vice mayor. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)
