MANILA, Philippines—Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s “Hugpong ng Pagbabago” will kick off its campaign in the province of Pampanga on February 12, 2019.
“February 12, Pampanga, sponsored by Hugpong ng Pagbabago. That’s the first one,” Senator Cynthia Villar said in a press briefing at the Senate on Tuesday.
Pampanga is the known bailiwick of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
But Villar said one consideration why the campaign would start in Pampanga was because Hugpong is allied with Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda.
Hugpong, she said, may endorse 14 senatorial bets during the event.
“Parang ang Hugpong 14,” the senator said.
Aside from her, Villar said two other partymates in the Nationalista Party would be part of Hugpong’s senatorial line up—Taguig Representative Pia Cayetano and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos.
READ: Imee Marcos joins forces with Sara Duterte’s ‘Hugpong’
She was confident though that the number of candidates may still be trimmed down to 12, depending on the decision of Duterte’s party.
“Kanilang decision yun eh, kasi parang ang pumili nun yung Hugpong. Siguro later on, kasi mas wise na 12 lang kasi baka isulat ang 14 ma-disqualify pa yung vote,” Villar pointed out.
Based on Hugpong’s tentative schedule, Villar said it would start its campaign in Central and Northern Luzon, then to Southern Bicol, before going to Visayas.
She said Hugpong will conclude its campaign in Mindanao, the known bailiwick of President Rodrigo Duterte. /jpv
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