‘Hugpong’ brings campaign to Ilocos

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago. PHOTO by Darryl John Esguerra / INQUIRER.net

VIGAN CITY, Philippines—The coalition of senatorial bets under Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) took its campaign caravan here on Monday.

Hosted by Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Singson, the party’s campaign rally in Tamag, Vigan City drew thousands of people who trooped to the venue as early as 8 a.m.

Nine of HNP’s 13 senatorial bets cracked jokes to liven up their campaign speeches and praised the Ilocano culture.

Among those who attended the event were re-electionist senators JV Ejercito and Cynthia Villar, former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, former senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, former chief of police Ronald Dela Rosa, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, journalist Jiggy Manicad and Maguindanao Rep. Dong Mangudadatu.

Former presidential aide Bo Go was represented by actor Philip Salvador, while senator Koko Pimentel was represented by his wife Kathryna Yu Pimentel.

After the Vigan sortie, the HNP will stage a separate event in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, on Monday afternoon.

Ilocos Norte is the bailiwick of administration-backed senatorial candidate Imee Marcos, who is also among HNP’s 13-man senatorial bets.

The attendees at the HNP’s campaign rally. PHOTO by Darryl John Esguerra / INQUIRER.net

In 2016, Senator Grace Poe topped the presidential race in three of four provinces in Ilocos Region, namely Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte gave the most number of votes to the eventual winner, President Rodrigo Duterte.

In his public speeches, Duterte has said that Marcos was instrumental in his bid for presidency. /je