Rody warns Hugpong members: Back party bets or let’s part ways

MEMBERS of Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod who refused to support official candidates fielded by the party in the May elections may face expulsion from the local administration party headed by Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Duterte issued the stern warning in his regular television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" aired Sunday morning over ABS-CBN Davao.

Duterte reminded Hugpong members, especially in the second district that he is backing the candidacy of incumbent Representative Mylene Garcia.

"Kamong mga taga Hugpong, ug di mo kasuporta ni Mylene Garcia, buwag-buwag ta. Prankahan ta na lang mo daan karon, it's either magkahiusa ta or dili (Members of Hugpong, if you don't support Mylene Garcia, we just have to part ways)," said Duterte, who is again seeking for the city's mayoralty post.

Garcia, who is seeking re-election, is the official candidate of Hugpong in the coming midterm elections and has businesswoman Joji Ilagan-Bian as her top contender for the post.

The vice mayor also reiterated that he is supporting the candidacy of Luis C. Bonguyan and Rep. Isidro T. Ungab in the first and third district congressional races, respectively.

Bonguyan is running against incumbent Rep. Karlo Nograles while Ungab, who is seeking his third and final term as congressman, is running unopposed.

"Karon ug di mo mubutar o mutabang ni Mylene, di mutabang ni Bonguyan ug ni Ungab, buwag-buwag ta. Simple lang man na (If you do not support Mylene, will not help campaign for Bonguyan and Ungab, let's just part ways. It's that simple)," Duterte said.

When lawyer Geraldine Tiu, host of the TV show, asked the vice mayor if these people who do not support Garcia are already identified, the latter said: "Mga konsehal na. Naa na na mga pangalan. Mao bitaw sige reklamo si Mylene. Ana ko ayaw kabalaka (They're councilors. They have been identified and this is the reason why Mylene kept on complaining. I told her not to worry)."

When asked to identify the councilors involved, Christopher "Bong" Go, Duterte's chief of staff, said the vice mayor was referring to all Hugpong members, but not limited to councilors.

"In general, paalala lang yun sa mga Hugpong kapitan and kagawads. Not councilors, but addressed to leaders ng Hugpong," Go told Sun.Star Davao in a text message.

In the same program, Duterte lashed at Bian for allowing her call center to be used for black propaganda against him in the last elections.

He, however, did not elaborate.

It can also be recalled that the Hugpong members unanimously picked Duterte's son, Councilor Paolo Duterte, president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), as Hugpong's vice mayoralty bet.

Meanwhile, the 21 official standard bearers of Hugpong for the councilor race are:

First District -- Nilo Abellera Jr.; Jesse Mar Colaste; Edgar Ibuyan; Leah Librado-Yap; Melchor Quitain; and Emmanuel Galicia Jr.
Second District -- Al Ryan Alejandre; April Marie Dayap; Tomas Monteverde; Jimmy Dureza; Arnold Apostol; Danny Dayanghirang; Diosdado Mahipus; Marissa Salvador-Abella.

And Third District -- Bernard Al-ag; Jose Mari Baluran; Karlo Bello; Gerardo Braganza; Myrna Ortiz; Joselle Villafuerte; Rachel Zozobrado.