DAVAO CITY –— A jampacked crowd with an estimated 2,000 members in attendance highlighted the forging of the old and new members in a mass oath-taking of Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod at the SMX Center here on Saturday night, May 18.
The past and present leaders and members belonging to the local group convened but there were members who were not allowed entry to the event, including the members of the Davao media.
Newsline sources revealed that the old guards of HTL were present during the occasion like former councilors Peter Laviña. Leoncio Evasco, Arnulfo Cabling, Nenita Orcullo, Jimmy Dureza, Diosdado Mahipus, Danilo Dayanghirang, Jesus Quitain Jr, the secretary general of Hugpong, among others.
But the door was closed to Councilor Wigberto Al-ag and his wife who is a barangay captain of Bangkas Heights, his sister-in–aw Toril barangay Captain Lilibeth Al-ag, Talomo Barangay captain Atty. Rene Villarente, 19-B Barangay Captain Loreto Nicolas among others.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte who created the party three decades ago was the guest of honor to the occasion administered their oath.
Before Duterte arrived at the hall, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte shared his journey as a leader, his challenges and the victories of Davao City.
The gathering was a reunion of sort, a councilor said.
The convention was almost simultaneously held with the forging of a new alliance between the Nationalist People’s Coalition and the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas in Metro Manila where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was the guest of honor.
“Wala ko nangaway kay Bongbong og unya og iya kung awayon di sab ko moatras,” (I do not quarrel with the Bongbong (The President) but he will hit me I will not backout.”
In his speech Duterte emphasized the importance of party unity and camaraderie in ensuring the welfare and the development of Davaoeños.
During the October 2023 barangays elections candidates of the Duterte’s lost in eleven (11) vote-rich barangays in Davao to include Bankerohan, Bucana, Calinan, Talomo Proper, Matina Crossing, Wilfredo Aquino, Barangay Angliongto among others.
The leaders of the eleven barangays are perceived to be allied with the group of PBA party-list representative Migs Nograles, daughter of Duterte’s former political rival, the late House Speaker Prospero Nograles.
After the convention at the SMX, First District Representative Paolo Duterte met some councilors and broke bread with them.
Vice President Sara Duterte failed to attend the occasion.
