Original stalwarts from the PDP-Laban is set to join the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), a newly-formed local coalition of partisan blocs in Southern Mindanao, as soon as the HNP gets the approval of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as a political party.
The proposed group’s thrust coincides with earlier resolutions passed by the PDP-Laban ‘originals’, also known as the Mindanao Area Council, declaring their intention to break away from the PDP-Laban after House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez allegedly violated the party’s Constitution and By-Laws by bypassing the protocol in recruitment, which requires that would-be members shall first undergo basic membership training (BMS).
The formation of the HNP was started early in the presidency of Rodrigo Roa Duterte but only hogged the headlines in 2017 after Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco made a pitch for making the Hugpong as a national unity movement.
In a recent meeting held in Cebu City, four Davao governors and a lady city mayor were elected to spearhead the new partisan bloc.
Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was installed chairperson while Davao Occidental governor Claude P. Bautista, a former congressman, was chosen as president. Davao Oriental governor Nelso Dayanghirang, also a former legislator, was elected vice-president, Davao del Norte governor Anthony G. Del Rosario, a two-time lawmaker, as secretary-general, while Compostela Valley governor Jayvee Tyron Uy was voted upon as treasurer.
The HNP’s first general asssembly, which shall momentarily excludes the Luzon area, will be held on February 23, 2018, Friday, at the Davao Convention and Trade Center.
Though no mention was made on who are invited to the gathering, individuals privy to the development pointed out that invitations were already sent out to allies and partners, with the petition for accreditation of the HNP as a political party as main agenda.
Expected to show up for the event are local political parties in Davao whose partisan agenda are consistent with the goverment’s call for change, and the breakaway PDP-Laban bloc which has adhered to the original policies of the Partido Demokratikong ng Pilipinas (PDP).
The local movements reportedly invited to join the assembly are the Kusog Baryohanon (Davao del Norte), Kami Dabaonon (Davao del Norte), Uswag Comval (Compostela Valley), and Kusog Davao Oriental.
The HNP event shall also be graced by leaders of local parties from the Visayas and Mindanao. (AMA)
