Duterte-allied party expels 4 local execs

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — The political shake-up has started in the Davao region among the allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte amid his continuing wrangling with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with the filing of the certificates of candidacy just about six months away for the May 2025 midterm elections.

On Monday, the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), which is headed by Vice President Sara Duterte, expelled from its ranks Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora and local political powerhouses from the Uy clan perceived to be allied with the Marcos administration—Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy and his son Vice Gov. De Carlo Uy of Davao del Norte; and De Carlo’s cousin, Davao de Oro Vice Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy.

READ: Marcos on his relationship with Duterte clan: ‘It’s complicated’

More to come

A statement from the HNP, which was circulated on social media on Tuesday, said the termination of their membership effective on Monday “comes in light of recent events and actions that have been found to conflict with the core principles and policies of our Party.”

It said the decision to boot out the four party stalwarts “was not made lightly” as they were “valued member(s) of our Party.”

“In the coming days, we expect the courtesy resignation of other members of the HNP as we continue our preparations for the upcoming elections,” the party’s statement further read.

The shake-up in the HNP came a day after former President Duterte and his allies held a rally in Tagum City bannered under Hakbang ng Maisug, a movement launched by the Dutertes in Davao City last January that has shaped to be a political counterforce of President Marcos.

It was during Sunday’s rally when former Speaker and now Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez called on the military to withdraw support from the Marcos administration, a move that has earned the ire of Marcos allies in Congress.

Not true

Earlier, Alvarez had accused Mayor Uy and his son De Carlo, who is currently the acting governor of Davao del Norte with the 60-day suspension of Gov. Edwin Jubahib, to be behind efforts to supposedly derail the holding of the April 14 Maisug rally at the provincial government’s sports complex.

Mayor Uy had belied such accusation, even declaring that the former president’s allies are free to hold rallies in Tagum City. As of Tuesday, the four political leaders had not issued any statement relating to their expulsion.

But their staunch supporters have made noise on social media questioning the party’s basis for its action, adding that the Uys and Zamoras should not be punished for maintaining political relations with the administration.