Will former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro be included in the senatorial lineup of the Bongbong-Sara UniTeam coalition?
This was the elephant in the room when the People's Reform Party and the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, political parties founded by the country's most eminent political figures the late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, respectively, renewed their 2019 alliance, this time for the 2022 local and national.
The alliance binds the two political parties to cooperate in pursuing victory for candidates that will get their common support.
Prevously, the PRP adopted Mayor Duterte, chairperson of both HNP and the Lakas-CMD party, as its vice presidential candidate.
On the other hand, Duterte’s UniTeam adopted PRP senatorial bet Harry Roque as a member of its lineup for the Senate.
It was not immediately known if Teodoro will also be included in the UniTeam coalition’s Senate lineup.
Teodoro, who witnessed the signing of the alliance agreement, vowed to fully support the candidates of the two parties in both national and local elections.
The renewal of the political pact was signed by the late senator’s husband, lawyer Narciso “Jun” Santiago Jr., currently the PRP president.
On the other hand, Davao Occidental Gov. Claude Bautista, HNP president, signed the alliance documents for the regional party based in Davao.
The alliance document provided that the two political parties will cooperate each other in seeking a peaceful and democratic way of life for their constituencies, “where freedom and the rule of law” is upheld.
In a press statement, Santiago said the PRP principles reflect the “strong political stance and extraordinary qualities of its founder fondly called as “inday Miriam” by Ilonggos.
Santiago said the PRP’s “Inday Sara” and Senator Santiago possessed the same qualities of an outstanding leader that the country has produced.
Under the alliance agreement, both HNP and PRP agreed to push for the vice presidential bid of Duterte. They will also support the candidacies of tghe presidential and senatorial candidates whose line-up will be selected by Duterte and the alliance.
Earlier, Mayor Duterte, together with HNP and Lakas-CMD, signed a coalition agreement with the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas headed by presidential aspirant former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Meanwhile, for the local elections,t he PRP will not field any local candidate but will instead endorse the HNP bets for Region XI.
For its part, the HNP will not endorse specific local bets in other regions and will be allowed to work with all candidates to promote unity.