FORMER Cebu City mayor Michael Rama has expressed intention to join Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s group Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

Rama’s group mates with United Barug Team Rama, though, will still have to discuss the matter.

“There is no problem because it’s a movement, a regional party, and if they are open to accommodating us in helping, then we will be willing to be a part of that group. We hope we would be able to have that opportunity so that we will be in one direction, helping whatever is the intention of this group,” Rama told City Hall reporters in a phone interview.

HNP is a regional political party formed by Mayor Duterte together with Governors Claude Bautista of Davao Occidental, Antonio del Rosario of Davao del Norte, Jayvee Tyron Uy of Compostela Valley, and Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental.

Rama said that if his allies who have taken oath before the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) will join HNP, there will be no conflict.

“Actually, I was looking at it, there is no conflict kay ang mga PDP naa na man sa Hugpong. Long time ago na mi sigeg istorya ana and dugay na sad ta nagrequest makigkita ni Mayor Sara. I don’t think there’ll be any problem because it’s still in line with the President (Rodrigo Duterte),” he added.

Rama sent out a letter expressing his intentions to the Davao City mayor a couple of days ago.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Rama’s ally, welcomed the development.

Group consensus

Labella, though, said that their group will still have to discuss the matter before coming to a decision. Labella is the president of the PDP-Laban Cebu City Chapter.

Labella said that despite reports of PDP facing difficulties, this will not affect them since the local chapters are financially independent.

Meanwhile, Mayor Tomas Osmeña reiterated that while his group is open to working together with HNP, Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) will not pledge allegiance to any political group.

“First and foremost, our obligation is to the people of Cebu City. BOPK’s general policy is to talk to everybody, but we will not join any group with the Marcoses,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale confirmed that she heard rumors that members of HNP are courting her to run for governor in the 2019 midterm elections, but she has yet to meet the HNP founder personally.

She also said that she will no longer run next year.

Gov. Hilario Davide III refused to comment on the issue unless it’s confirmed.

However, he said he is still trying to convince Magpale to be his running mate.

He said he will respect Magpale’s decision no matter what it is.

When Magpale talked to Davide about her decision to quit politics, he asked her to help find him a running mate.

The 76-year old vice governor said she wants to retire, and focus on her family instead.

Magpale has been in politics for 32 years. She was Davide’s running mate in 2013 and 2016.

Next year’s elections are scheduled in May, but the Commission on Elections has yet to issue the calendar of activities, including the filing of the certificate of candidacy. (WITH JERRA MAE LIBREA, USJ-R INTERN)