Angara credits Sara Duterte for big crowds during campaign sorties

TACLOBAN CITY — Reelectionist Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara gave credit to presidential daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, for the big crowd during their political sorties.

“We have been gathering huge crowds like in Nueva Ecija we had 20,000 and in Quezon City, 10,000. I think Mayor Sara is one, if not, the main reason why we draw big crowds,” Angara said.

Duterte, head of the Hugbong ng Pagbabago, has been accompanying HNP’s senatorial candidates in their rallies.

Angara attended a basketball exhibition game against some movie actors at the Tacloban City Convention Center last Sunday.

Christopher “Bong” Go, HNP senatorial candidate, was invited to the event initiated by the Eastern Visayas Basketball League but didn’t show up. Instead, he was represented by comedian Dennis Padilla.

Angara said Duterte had not missed any of the political sorties, unlike some HNP candidates who sometimes missed their rallies.

“Wala pa siyang absent since day 20. Kami, maraming nag-a absent sa amin. Pagod na kami. Siya, dire-direcho; morning till evening from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. We give it to her. Malakas ang energy level and dedication niya,” the senator said.

(She has not been absent since day 20 unlike us, many of us had been absent because we were getting tired. But she went ahead, morning until evening, from Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Her energy level and dedication are high).

Angara also reiterated the stand of the HNP not to engage in a debate with the opposition’s Otso Diretso.

“They will only use it as a venue to hit us. Gagamitin kami (They will use us) for a certain purpose which is negative campaigning,” he said.

“Hindi naman ito (this is not a) one-on-one; it’s a race to have the best 12. The people will be voting who they feel will be the best 12 senators,” Angara said. /lzb