Hugpong loses Davao Norte ally to PDP-Laban

DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party has lost a key ally in Davao del Norte province with the planned resignation of former Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy as its city chair.

In a radio interview on Tuesday, Uy said he agreed to run for vice governor in next year’s election under former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Uy said his decision to join PDP-Laban came after top HNP officials in the province supposedly ignored his intention to run for vice governor under the new regional political party led by the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“We informed Gov. Anthony del Rosario of our serious intention to return to public service but it seemed he did not hear it. We also told RDR about it and he also appeared to have not heard us at all,” Uy said, referring to Anthony’s father, former Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario.

Mayors’ support

Uy said he was told that HNP’s vice gubernatorial candidate should come from the second congressional district as the Del Rosarios hail from the first district and that Rep. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr. of the second district was HNP’s likely candidate.

According to Uy, he had told Floirendo about his desire to run for the post, and that the latter had expressed approval. Despite this, the Del Rosarios appeared indecisive, he said.

“We should not beg for the position. Last Sunday, I decided not to wait for HNP’s decision,” Uy said, adding that mayors under PDP-Laban “were unanimous” in supporting him.

Running mate

Uy would be the running mate of Alvarez’s chief of staff and protege, Edwin Jubahib, a newcomer in Davao del Norte politics.

Even as he would resign as HNP city chair, Uy said he would remain an HNP member. His nephew, Compostela Valley Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy, is HNP’s treasurer.

Uy had also reached out to his erstwhile rival, Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon, who succeeded him in 2013 and who defeated him by a slim margin in 2016. —FRINSTON LIM