By Freddie Lazaro
BANGUED, Abra - Over 5,000 village, town and provincial officials who are members of Abra’s local party Asenso led by Governor Maria Jocelyn Bernos on Tuesday forged an alliance with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte - Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago party.
Abra’s local party Asenso led by Governor Maria Jocelyn Bernos forged an alliance with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte - Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago party on Tuesday.
(PIA Cordillera / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Hugpong’s dreams for the Philippines are identical to what Asenso is dreaming of for Abra. A clean and peaceful province,” said Valera-Bernos.
“We had long wanted to shed away the stigma of a province wrought by violence. Ang mga taga Abra ay gusto na ang lugar namin ay maging maunlad,” she added.
Asenso has under its umbrella 25 of the 27 incumbent Abra town mayors.
Abra Rep. Joseph “JB” Bernos, brother-in-law of Governor Valera-Bernos, along with other local leaders welcomed Mayor Duterte – Carpio and her party’s Senate bets, former Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Zajid Mangudadatu; former Presidential spokesman Atty. Harry Roque, Sen. JV Ejercito, former Presidential Adviser Francis Tolentino and Bacoor, Cavite mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla, who represented her husband, detained former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Also witnessing the Hugpong and Asenso union were Governors Jayvee Tyron L. Uy, Anthony del Rosario, Nelson Dayanghirang, Claude Bautista and Ryan Singson.
“We believe that Asenso and Hugpong share the same vision and objectives for the society”, Valera-Bernos said.
Mayor Duterte meantime was also named an adopted daughter of Abra, bearing the name local name ‘Dulimaman’.
‘Dulimaman’ is a heroine of the Tingguian epic “Wadagan and Dulimaman”, who embodies the characteristics of a great Tingguian female embodying courage, wisdom and compassion.