MANILA, Philippines – Graduating senator Loren Legarda welcomed Sara Duterte and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) candidates in her home province of Antique where she is seeking a congressional seat.

Legarda joined the administration-allied slate on Tuesday, March 26, as they courted voters in San Jose Buenavista town. Antique Governor Rhodora Javier Cadiao was also present. Legarda and Cadiao sat on either side of Sara onstage.

The veteran lawmaker also hosted a lunch for the group after the rally which began on Tuesday morning.

Legarda said she is ready to work with HNP senatorial candidates, pointing out how similar her advocacies are with what the Davao regional political party and its bets supposedly stand for.

“I have worked with many of HNP’s candidates and I know the kind of work and commitment they have to serving the Filipino people,” she said in a press statement.

During the rally, Sara and Legarda raised each other’s hands as a show of support.

The press release also said Legarda’s initiatives on protecting the environment, helping the agricultural sector, and boosting entrepreneurship “run parallel with the programs of HNP.”

HNP forged an alliance with Legarda’s political party, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), in August last year.

While Legarda was at the HNP rally, HNP media relations staff said the event was not hosted by the lawmaker but by Tin Dionela, a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Sebaste, another Antique town. – Rappler.com