BATAAN, Philippines – Yet another powerful clan in Luzon has jumped on the Duterte bandwagon.

The Garcias of Bataan hosted presidential daughter Davao City mayor Sara Duterte and her senatorial candidates in two separate events on Wednesday, February 13.

The first event was held at the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) in Mariveles.

Governor Abet Garcia and other Bataan local executives made sure to pack the FAB’s covered court with constituents, despite the early morning rain. 

Garcia sat onstage beside Sara, surrounded on both sides by Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) senatorial bets. 

“Our President needs allies in the Senate so that development and progress in our country will continue,” he said in Filipino after calling each of the towns present in the gathering. 

Bataan 2nd District Representative Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III, meanwhile, said, “All our barangay officials are united under the goals of HNP. You can depend on Bataan’s all-out support for HNP’s senatorial line-up.”

Another Bataan representative, Geraldine Roman, was also there to give support to HNP, saying she admired President Rodrigo Duterte’s political will.

Bataan has around 546,000 registered voters. The day before, on Tuesday, Sara and HNP candidates kicked off their campaign in vote-rich Pampanga, with the all-out support of the province’s power brokers, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Governor Lilia Pineda.

They had also attended a campaign rally in Angeles City, hosted by Mayor Ed Pamintuan.

Later on Wednesday, Sara and some HNP candidates joined a campaign rally in Olongapo City in Zambales, another Central Luzon province. 

It was organized by Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino, who was serving a 6-month suspension ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged regularities in the lease of government property to SM Prime Holdings Incorporated. Paulino was supposed to run for reelection but withdrew his bid and was replaced by his son and namesake. – Rappler.com