HUGPONG ng Pagbabago (HNP) Chairman and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has endorsed Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) President Martin Romualdez as Speaker of the incoming 18th Congress.
Duterte-Carpio, daughter of President Duterte, introduced Romualdez, a three-term congressman of Leyte’s first district, as the next Speaker at Tuesday’s campaign sortie held at the jampacked Tacloban City Convention Center, or the Tacloban Astrodome.
“Ang Hugpong ng Pagbabago po, kasama ang aming supporters, ang Tingog Sinirangan party-list at si Congressman Martin Romualdez, ang susunod natin na Speaker sa House of Representatives, ay nag-iiwan po ng bukas na invitation sa inyong lahat na bumisita ng Davao City [The Hugpong ng Pagbabago, along with my supporters, the Tingog Sinirangan party-list and Congressman Martin Romualdez are leaving you an open invitation to visit Davao City],” Duterte-Carpio told the crowd.
She joined Romualdez and Tingog first nominee and Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez in campaigning for the senatorial bets of HNP.
“I repeat what I said the last time I was here. I’m happy to stand on stage to personally thank all of you. We owe you all a huge debt of gratitude,” Duterte added, in a mix of English and Filipino, at the rally hosted by the Romualdezes.
Responding to Duterte-Carpio, Romualdez thanked the Davao City mayor for the endorsement.
“I choked because Ma’am Inday Sara said I will be the next Speaker of the House. Thank you, ma’am, for the trust and confidence. I am humbled by the mere mention of my name,” Romualdez said.
He added, “I am very thankful, honored and grateful for the endorsement given to me by Mayor Sara in what is going to be a competitive speakership race.”
Romualdez said that, “as a Malacañang ally” he is “committed to push the legislative agenda of the President. Right now, I am working very hard to ensure my victory in the coming election.”
Duterte-Carpio drove from Catarman, Northern Samar to Tacloban City, the capital of Eastern Visayas, on board her motorcycle for six hours as HNP kicked off its Visayas leg campaign caravan for its senatorial slate and allied candidates in the region led by Tingog party-list.
The 13 senatorial candidates of HNP are reelectionist Sens. Sonny Angara, Cynthia Villar, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, former Presidential Assistant Bong Go, former Sens. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Bong Revilla, Deputy Speaker and Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, Dr. Willie Ong and former Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino.
In Tacloban City, Duterte-Carpio delivered her message of change, urging the audience to vote for Tingog and Hugpong’s senatoriables in the upcoming May 13 elections.
In her speech, Duterte believed that most of the problems in national will be solved at the local level, hence, her push for Tingog as a regional party-list group.
Meanwhile, Yedda Romualdez said the alliance between Tingog and Hugpong “will pave the way for a farther reach of the advocacies of both parties through the provision of mutual support.”
The other nominees of Tingog are Jude Acidre, Jamie Go, Alexis Yu and Jenifer Padual.
