Arroyo: Vote for HNP bets, remember how Duterte won in Pampanga

ANGELES CITY, Philippines — Former president and House Speaker Gloria Arroyo on Tuesday pitched to her constituents here to support the Senate bets of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

She reminded her constituents how President Rodrigo Duterte won the 2016 presidential race in the province.

The HNP, which kicked off its campaign here in Arroyo’s bailiwick on Tuesday, is endorsing 13 senatorial aspirants for the May elections, all of whom are either allies or supportive of the Duterte administration.

“Importante na maalala ng tao ng Pampanga ang tatay ni Sara Duterte. Kasi nung nakaraang halalan, pinakamalaking landslide na nakuha ni Mayor (Rodrigo) Duterte sa labas ng kanyang balwarte, walang iba kundi ang probinsiya ng Pampanga” Arroyo said during the party’s sortie at the San Fernando Provincial Capitol.

(It is important for the people of Pampanga to remember the father of Sara Duterte. Because in the previous election, Duterte won a landslide here in Pampanga outside of his bailiwick.)

The House leader introduced the senatorial candidates of HNP one by one. In the 2016 presidential elections, Duterte topped the race in Pampanga followed by Senator Grace Poe and former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The HNP is supporting the candidacy of  reelectionist Senators Cynthia Villar, Koko Pimentel, Sonny Angara, and JV Ejercito; former senators Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla and Pia Cayetano; Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, former police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, former presidential aide Bong Go, former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino and journalist Jiggy Manicad. /ee