MANILA, Philippines — Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) will not seek the support of major religious groups for the May midterm elections, Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said Wednesday.
Duterte-Carpio, HNP’s chairperson, said she will let her party’s senatorial candidates decide individually whether they will solicit the support of religious groups or not.
“As a group hindi, kasi hindi naman sila members ng HNP at baka hindi pumayag na ganun ang gagawin namin. Sinabihan namin sila na individually sila na lang or as a party. Meron tayong NPC, PDP-Laban sa mga slate natin,” the presidential daughter said.
(As a group, we are not [seeking the support of religious groups] because some [of our candidates] are not members of HNP, so they may not agree. We told our candidates they can decide individually. We have NPC, PDP-Laban candidates in our slate.)
“As a party sila dapat ‘yung pumunta doon sa mga kailangan nilang kausapin to solicit support (As a party, they should talk to them to solicit support),” she added.
HNP is endorsing the candidacy of 13 pro-administration senatorial candidates.
Earlier, reelectionist Senator JV Ejercito expressed confidence that he will win the support of religious groups, citing how he performed in the previous Congress.
READ: Ejercito confident of winning religious groups’ support in May polls
Courting religious groups like the Iglesia Ni Cristo has been the norm for most political parties in every election. /ee
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