HNP ends senatorial campaign in Davao City

May 10, 2019

DAVAO CITY - A new political party allied with the Duterte administration wrapped up its last campaign rally Thursday night before Monday’s midterm elections.

Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, raised the left hand of half brother, Senator JV Ejercito, in the former’s turn to talk during the 73rd and final rally of Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

“Please vote for the good one, but don’t forget to vote also for the better one,” Jinggoy Estrada said, as he gestured to his younger brother by six years to stand next to him, to the cheering audience, which filled part of the downtown San Pedro Street including the part fronting the Rizal Park.

Both have been civil to each other for years.

Also given the last spot to talk among the 13 HNP endorsed candidates for the 12 senatorial slots was former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, who was detained in 2014 on a charge of plunder of P224.5 million legislative funds. The graft court Sandiganbayan acquitted him on December 7 last year.

“I can not imagine I am able to stand in front of you now. Thanks to the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, thanks to Mayor Inday (Sara Duterte-Carpio, the President’s daughter) for giving me this opportunity,” Revilla said.

Revilla said he was running again for senator “not to seek vengeance, but to assure you that I will fight for you in the Senate”.

All the candidates lauded Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s “unwavering and untiring” campaign during the 90 days of the campaign period.

Francis Tolentino, a former head of the Metro Manila Development Authority, and re-electionist Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, said the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter were delivering real political points in their favor indicating “the continuing popularity of the President”.

Pimentel told a press briefing earlier he would assure Filipinos of the tradition of the independence of the Senate even if this year’s election would blank the opposition Otso Derecho from the 12 senatorial slots.

“Even if the winners would all come from the allies of the President, I would assure everyone that the Senate would remain independent.” he said. Besides, he said four senators in the opposition “are still waiting for the other 12”.

“It is different if one is a lapdog, as critics would insist, but we are here to support the program of the President because the administration has delivered its promises and has turned the nation safe and progressive,” said senatorial hopeful, Ronald dela Rosa, former chief of the Philippine National Police.

Duterte did not attend the HNP rally here and her daughter, Sara, said the President talked to her to deliver his message “to ask you to support the administration candidates under Hugpong”.

“He has watched the live streaming of our campaign rally here and he said he ask your support by coming out on Monday and register your votes,” his daughter said.

The mayor did not say why her father was unable to attend but the President’s aide, and now senatorial bet, Christopher Lawrence '' Bong'' Go, said the President got tired from a previous activity. DMS