Sara Duterte's Hugpong to have 14 Senate bets

MANILA, Philippines —   Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) coalition will endorse 14 senatorial candidates during the party’s first political rally in Pampanga on Feb. 12, Sen. Cynthia Villar bared yesterday.

Villar, who is seeking re-election in the midterm polls in May, said she and the other candidates will be endorsed by other political parties under the HNP coalition.

Villar is chair of the Nacionalista Party (NP).

“Feb. 12 sa Pampanga sponsored by Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) that’s the first one (political rally). Parang ang HNP 14 (candidates) eh,” Villar told reporters yesterday.

She noted that HNP has established coalitions with political groups in every province, including Pampanga under the political party of Gov. Lilia Pineda.

She said that Pampanga politicians volunteered to host the event.

“From Pampanga to Northern Luzon... there is a tentative schedule. First Central Luzon and Nothern Luzon then back to Southern Region, then Visayas ending in Mindanao.”

When asked if the 14 senatorial candidates will be trimmed down to 12, Villar said the HNP leadership would decide later on the issue.

She, however, said limiting the number of candidates to 12 would be a wise decision to avoid risk of void ballots.

Villar said the NP has revitalized its alliance with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and the ruling PDP-Laban to form a coalition for the 2019 elections.

Aside from Villar, NP fielded two other women in the 2019 senatorial elections – Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano.

Incumbent Sens. Grace Poe, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay and Koko Pimentel are seeking their second term in the Senate.