Hugpong ng Pagbabago courts Cebu, PH’s most vote-rich province

Pia Ranada

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Hugpong ng Pagbabago courts Cebu, PH’s most vote-rich province
Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmeña's rival, Vice Mayor Edgar Labella, plays host to Hugpong ng Pagbabago candidates and presidential daughter Sara Duterte

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Which senatorial candidates will get the support of the country’s most vote-rich province, Cebu?

From Thursday to Friday, March 21 to 22, Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) is working for Cebu’s sweet yes.

HNP candidates, accompanied by Sara and influential Cebuano politicians, are attending 4 campaign rallies in the province. (READ: Your guide to what Hugpong ng Pagbabago senatorial bets say during sorties)

Cebu City, a coveted gem with its 709,000 registered voters, was HNP’s second stop in the province on Thursday.

Sara and HNP candidates were hosted by Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgar Labella, a member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s national political party PDP-Laban.

 

While HNP candidates have been hosted by incumbent local chiefs in other vote-rich areas, such was not the case for Cebu City.

Tough-talking Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmeña was nowhere to be found near HNP. Osmeña, a 3-time Cebu City mayor, never joined PDP-Laban, choosing to stick with a local party allied with the opposition Liberal Party (LP). He has also been on the receiving end of the President’s cursing.

Labella, HNP’s host, is considered Osmeña’s most serious rival in the Cebu mayoral race. With Labella to welcome HNP was Mike Rama, his running mate, and himself a former Cebu City mayor.

Also onstage at the Cebu City rally was Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, who is also not on good terms with Osmeña.

Quisumbing steps up

On Thursday, their first stop was Mandaue City with over 226,000 registered voters. They were hosted by its mayor Luigi Quisumbing, a PDP-Laban member. Quisumbing was the first LP member from Cebu who jumped ship to PDP-Laban after Duterte won the 2016 presidential elections.

Quisumbing asked Mandaue City residents to vote for HNP candidates. He described them as individuals with “clear” track records and a firm stance against crime and corruption.

All candidates were given 10 minutes each to speak. Former police chief Ronald dela Rosa was a crowd favorite after belting out “You Are The Reason,” a song by Calum Scott.

 

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos brought along her pigtailed mascot, which danced and gestured to the crowd as the senatorial bet spoke.

Most HNP candidates were present in at least one of the Thursday events in Cebu. But notably missing in both events were Duterte aide Bong Go (who sent comedian Bayani Agbayani as proxy), senators Cynthia Villar and JV Ejercito, and Senator Sonny Angara (who was represented by his wife Tootsy).

 

On Friday, HNP candidates will wrap up their Cebu tour with rallies in Danao City and Liloan. – Rappler.com

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Pia Ranada

Pia Ranada is Rappler’s Community Lead, in charge of linking our journalism with communities for impact.