Although she has no opponent, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte admitted she is nervous for the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) senatorial slate, saying this year’s election is a crucial test for the Duterte administration.
“I’d like to request everyone to go out and vote and choose candidates on their assessment who should the lead senate and local government,” she said in an interview with reporters after she had cast her vote.
She noted that in the first three years of the administration, President Duterte is having difficulty in pushing for some of his agenda because of the lack of support from the Senate.
“That is why we really try hard during the campaign pagkuha ng suporta para sa mga senador na nakakaintindi kung ano ang vision ng ating presidente and hopefully bobotohan nila (That is why we really tried hard during the campaign to get support for our senators who understand the vision of the President and hopefully they will vote for them),” she said.
Mayor Sara and senatorial candidates Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and Ronald dela Rosa cast their votes early on Election Day.
President Rodrigo Duterte also cast his vote at the Daniel Aguinaldo National High School in Matina at 4:35 pm.
Mayor Sara, who cast her vote at 8:35 a.m. in the same precinct as the President, made the last call to all Dabawenyos to go out and vote as she noticed only a few people in the first hours of the voting — unlike in the 2016 presidential elections.
Over at Buhangin Central Elementary School, Bong Go queued for almost two hours before his turn to cast his vote.
Before casting his vote, Go visited the Carmelite Church in Lanang to pray and seek blessing. He also met with Father Jun Acedo, IP Apostolate Director of the Archdiocese of Davao.
On the other hand, dela Rosa cast his vote early at the Apolinar Franco Elementary School in Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. (PNA)
