Sara Duterte defends ‘entertainment filled’ campaign sorties

MANILA, Philippines — Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) leader and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday defended her party’s entertainment filled campaign sorties, saying that people tend to dismiss lengthy speeches.

In an interview with reporters after HNP’s campaign rally in Antipolo City, the presidential daughter stressed that the entertainment portion of their events was meant to keep the crowd listening.

She also said that HNP’s style, which was rebuked as mere entertainment by some opposition bets, is an idea of the party’s Secretariat.

“That is the decision of the Secretariat because candidates’ speeches kasi hindi naman pwedeng dire-diretso ‘yung mga speeches ng mga candidates kasi darating ang panahon na hindi na maga-grasp nung mga nakikinig kung ano ‘yung sinasabi. So we have to break it with entertainment,” Duterte-Carpio said.

(That is the decision of the Secretariat because  candidates’ speeches alone cannot sustain the interest of the people, so we have to break it with entertainment.)

Since the first day of the campaign period, some senatorial candidates of the pro-administration HNP like former chief of police Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, former presidential aide Bong Go, and former Senator Bong Revilla, devote a chunk of their speaking time to singing.

Also, a notable feature in HNP’s events is the performance of rapper Andrew E, who is campaigning for the regional party and Dumper partylist.

Duterte-Carpio herself also sang during HNP’s campaign rally in Quezon City. /ee

WATCH: Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio sings "Awitin mo at Isasayaw ko" during HNP's campaign sortie in Quezon City @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/EtniEDmhqf

— Darryl John Esguerra (@drrylesguerra) February 28, 2019