No Hugpong – Bakud Alliance: ‘Free zone’for Cebu gov

CEBU, Philippines — Even if Cebu Third District Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia is in the same political party as President Rodrigo Duterte, the president’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, said yesterday they are not supporting Garcia solely in the 2019 elections.

In a speech in Mandaue City yesterday, Sara said Garcia and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale who are both running for Cebu governor are both their friends.

"This is the essence of democracy. Moagi ta’g piniliay. We respect more of the majority. Kaganina, I did not side with Congresswoman Gwen, I did not (take) sides with Vice Governor Magpale. They are both our friends, we support both (of) their candidacy for governor of Cebu," she said.

Also in Liloan town, Sara said she has no official bet for governor.

“Wala koy official bet. As I said, I am not from Cebu. We are helping everybody who is helping the administration of President Duterte,” she told reporters.

Liloan gave the president the most votes in the Fifth District during the 2016 elections.  Sara said she has no interest in Cebu politics and does not want to meddle even if she has relatives here.

“Naa ko karon diri sa inyoha karong buntaga para mangampanya ko kang Governor Gwen Garcia. Unyang hapon, ig-tungtong nako sa ilang stage, ‘naa ko dinhi sa inyong atubangan kay mangampanya ko para kang Vice Governor Agnes Magpale,” she said.

“Moana ni si Christina nga bwesit gyud ning bayhana ni,” she said in jest, referring to Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, the daughter of Gwen.

Sara was in Liloan to sign the sisterhood agreement between the town and Davao City, which is seen to facilitate knowledge sharing and cooperation between the two local government units.

No Alliance

Meanwhile, Sara clarified that Magpale’s BAKUD party and her own group, the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, has no official alliance.

“Wala mi alliance sa BAKUD because ang alliance man gud with HNP needs to be approved by the governors, the officers and wala mi nakakuha ana,” she told reporters.

In a statement, Garcia said:

“I would like to thank Mayor Sara for choosing to remain neutral in Cebu's gubernatorial race. This is contrary to earlier claims by my opponent that she was asked to run by Mayor Sara and that Bakud had already forged an alliance with Hugpong ng Pagbabago,” Gwen said.

Mayor Frasco also said she is glad of Sara’s clarification.

“Nalipay kaayo mi sa deklarasyon ni Mayor Sara, ang among igsuon. Nindot sab kaayo nga gitagaan gyud og clarification ni Mayor Sara, that contrary to what has been claimed by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, and BAKUD dili diay tinuod nga naay alliance ang Hugpong (ng Pagbabago) ug Bakud,” she told reporters.

Sara has endorsed Frasco’s husband, Duke, who is running for Fifth District Representative.

Duke said his group, Lakas-CMD, has an alliance with HNP given that they are also allied with PDP-LABAN.

Advice For Unity

Sara explained that during her meeting with Magpale in Davao City earlier this month she told the latter to unite leaders in Cebu.

“Ana ko nga pwede ba mo maghiusa? Pwede ba usahon nalang na ninyo for the good of your province? Mag-gobernador ang isa, mag-bise gobernador ang isa,” she disclosed.

However, since this does not seem to be an option at present, she said:

“If you don’t want unity, there is democracy. There is an election. Mag-grupo nalang mo and you let the people choose kung kinsa because that is the essence of the election. Ang mga katawhan nalang ang mopili,”

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In Mandaue City, Sara signed an alliance with the local group, the Hugpong ng Mandauehanon sa Pagbabago headed by Mayor Luigi Quisumbing.

The signing of the agreement was witnessed by those running under the HMP slate, including Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna and senatorial aspirants Harry Roque, Ronald Dela Rosa, and Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu.

Also showing support to Sara were former Laguna Governor ER Ejercito, Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista, Davao del Norte Governor Antonio del Rosario, Compostela Valley Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, and Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang.

Quisumbing was previously an ally of PDP-Laban when he won as mayor in 2016. Prior to this, he was an ally of Liberal Party when he ran and won as congressman for Cebu’s Sixth District.

Sara said she is supporting Quisumbing’s re-election bid.

"Oo, Mayor Quisumbing is our friend and our ally," Sara said.

Quisumbing said that for Mandaue, Davao City is a model city.

"Bisan gamay ra ta nga dakbayan, hopefully, we would be able to mirror some of their success. Dako kaayo akong pasalamat kang Mayor Sara ug sa mga governors nga nag comprise sa membership and leadership sa Hugpong ng Pagbabago for accepting Hugpong ng Mandauehanon as their alliance partner in the province of Cebu" he said. (FREEMAN)