Leoncio Evasco, current mayor of Maribojoc Municipality in Bohol and one of Hugpong’s founding members, said the event is “historical” as it’s the first-ever gathering of Hugpong as a political party, now under the Duterte triumvirate. The convention was attended by about 3,000 members.
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Now registered as a local political party by election authorities, the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod merely formalized itself as a political party of the Dutertes, with the announcement Friday of Paolo Duterte as its official candidate for vice mayor in the 2013 elections.
“It’s mixed emotions. I’m happy at the same time nervous for the responsibility I’m about to face,” says Duterte, President of the Association of Barangay Captains and son of current Vice-Mayor and longtime Davao patriarch Rodrigo Duterte.
Leoncio Evasco, current mayor of Maribojoc Municipality in Bohol and one of Hugpong’s founding members, said the event is “historical” as it’s the first-ever gathering of Hugpong as a political party, now under the Duterte triumvirate. The convention was attended by about 3,000 members.
“We already have our own by-laws and set of officers to lead the people of Davao,” Evasco said, as he remembered Hugpong’s inception 12 years ago during Duterte’s bid to campaign against then Mayor Ben de Guzman
Hugpong is chaired by Vice Mayor Duterte, and vice-chaired by his younger sister, Mayor Sara Duterte.
Just hours before the convention, Paolo Duterte expressed his desire to run as vice mayor, in an interview by davaotoday.com. But he said, he still needs approval from the party and that his father will have the final say.
With Hugpong now fielding him for the position, Paolo said he will definitely take a “u-turn” from his character, mainly from being “hot-tempered.”
“Paningkamotan nako nga dili mapahiya ang akong pamilya, ang mga tao sa syudad ug ang Hugpong, (I’ll do my best. I don’t want to bring shame on the family, the people of Davao and Hugpong)” he said.
During the convention, VM Duterte said in a jest, “Kung ikaw (Paolo) magdala ug magkalat ka, dili na ko moatubang og tawo. Maghikog ko (Once you take charge and you won’t do it responsibly, I will not face the people anymore. I will kill myself.)”
He advised his son to “always listen to the people’s advices, especially the barangay captains.” He added, Paolo should humble himself, too, and to take care of the people.
Comebacking councilors
During Friday’s convention, instead of sticking to eight candidates per district, VM Duterte announced more than 10 council bets each in the three city’s congressional districts, saying he “can’t abandon them.”
“My heart bleeds because I would want to have a clean slate,” he told the crowd, adding, “Marami akong taong pinagkakautangan ng loob. Kung may pinagsamahan tayo, dili nako kaya nga byaan ka, (I owe debt to a lot of people. If you were good to me, then I can’t abandon you),” he said.
The lineup was composed of old and new faces.
In first district, Hugpong’s list include: Nilo Abellera, Jr; Edgar Ibuyan; Leah Librado-Yap; Melchor Quitain; Ma. Belen Acosta; Emmanuel Galicia, Jr; Leo Avila; Jessiemar Colaste, Bonifacio Militar and Oca Casaysay.
In second district: Al Ryan Alejandre, Marissa Salvador-Abella, John Louie Bonguyan, April Marie Dayap, Tomas Monteverde III, Jimmy Dureza, Arnold Apostol, Danny Dayanghirang, Julie Romalyn Cabling, Diosdado Mahipus, Gerald Bangoy and Richelle Patiganzo.
Bangoy is the grandson of the late Don Paciano Bangoy, vice governor of Rodrigo’s father, Vicente Duterte of the then undivided Davao Province. Meanwhile, Patiganzo is the wife of Tata Sala, a known long-time ally of the vice mayor.
In third district: Victorio Advincula Jr; Bernard Al-ag; Karlo Bello; Rachel Zozobrado; Jose Marie Baluran; Joselle Villafuerte; Gerardo Braganza; Eduardo Trinidad; Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz and Antoinette Principe.
Over a dozen of the Hugpong candidates are first-timers vying for a local seat. But, they have surnames considered old in the Davao politics and the backing of the powerful Dutertes.
A village captain who refused to be named, however, commented on the new and young candidates.
“They are very young and don’t have any political experience. How they lead the people remains to be seen,” he said.
As a Hugpong member and who’s in public service for about two decades, he worries what negative effects might bring in fielding candidates “out of debt of gratitude.”
Meanwhile, the Hugpong lineup is almost complete with Mylene Garcia and Isidro Ungab for the second and third district representatives.
VM Duterte said he and Sara will decide first who runs for Mayor and the first district representative. “Inday (Sara) has a choice. We’ll decide in the coming days,” he said.
On October 5, VM Duterte said he will file his certificate of candidacy. By then, the public will confirm the buzz that’s been going around: that the three Dutertes will occupy the key positions including the turf of his long-time rival, Boy Nograles.
The first congressional district is a known stronghold of the Nograleses with Karlo as the current representative.
According to lawyer Melchor Quitain, Hugpong secretary general, they have not heard of any opposing political groups and candidates, yet. He also said they have no affiliations yet to other political parties. “But eventually, we will have alliances,” he said. (Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan/davaotoday.com)
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