Davao city mayor Sara Duterte led the oath taking of the new Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) members during the basic orientation and mass oath-taking held separately at the New Malita Gym for Davao Occidental and Digos City Gym for Davao del Sur on Monday, August 6, 2018.
Approximately 4,000 participants from both provinces committed to HNP’s goal as a political party. New members composed of local government officials and barangay officials.
This event was attended by HNP key officials headed by Duterte as the regional party’s chairman.
“Nag pasalamat mi sa inyong kampanya ug suporta para sa kandidatura ni President Duterte atong 2016. Thank you sa inyoha,” said Sara Duterte in her speech.
Duterte said that she is also thankful for the support given to HNP.
“Thank you so much for your very passionate commitment to join Hugpong ng Pagbabago,” she said.
She said that all provinces were able to take their oath and on August 17, Davao City will have their oath taking which will be attended by President Rodrigo Duterte. She said that the interested applicant to be a member of HNP should have a good public service track record.
She made it clear that she will not be running for a senatorial position on the upcoming elections, but asked the members to give their support to Congressman Zajid Mangudadatu, General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, SenatorJoseph Victor Gomez Ejercito, Governor Imee Marcos on the upcoming 2019 elections.
“We are very grateful to them (HNP) and to all the members of the HNP, the governors and the city mayors,” said Marcos on a press conference held after the event.
“I am very grateful that HNP adopted me and that will greatly help,” said Ejercito.
He added that they all want to help the President’s administration to succeed “because his success will be our success.”
HNP was organized to create a strong Davao region. The first members included governors Tyrone Uy of Compostela Valley, Claude Bautista of Davao Occidental, Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental and Anton del Rosario of Davao del Norte and Duterte herself.
