DAVAO CITY – Several allies of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte filed their Certificate of Candidacy for councilor here before the Commission on Elections on Sunday, October 6.
FORMER President Duterte (SMNI screenshot)
They are running under the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (HTL) or the Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) political parties allied with Duterte family.
Filing under the HTL in the first district were Pagde Niño P. Ibuyan, son of Barangay 5-A Bankerohan Chairman Edgar Ibuyan Sr. and brother of Councilor Edgar Ibuyan Jr.; re-electionists Bonz Andre A. Militar, Temujin B. Ocampo, and Jessica M. Bonguyan; returning Councilor Pamela A. Librado, and TJ Braga Corsino, grandson of Councilor Pilar C. Braga.
Also running under HTL in the second district were reelectionists Al Ryan S. Alejandre, Louie John J. Bonguyan, Jonard Cascabel Dayap, and Richlyn N. Justol Baguilod.
Under the PDP-Laban in the first district were Jimmy G. Dureza and newcomers Allan P. Simo-Ag and Doce Laude Apostol.
In the third district, they were reelectionists Alberto T. Ungab, Myrna G. Dalodo-Ortiz, Bai Hundra Cassandra Dominic N. Advincula, and cousins Lorenzo Benjamin D. Villafuerte and Trisha Ann J. Villafuerte; comebacking Antoinette G. Principe and Rachel P. Zozobrado; Ramon M Bargamento II, former chairman of Barangay Mintal; Jose Marie Bernardo R. Baluran; Rodolfo M. Mande, councilor and Indigenous Peoples mandatory representative, and Carmelo J. Clarion, who was appointed councilor in 2018 after the appointment of Bernard E. Al-ag as vice mayor.
Davao City third district Rep. Isidro T. Ungab said in an interview that he would continue supporting the Duterte family, particularly former President Duterte and daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Kung buot huna hunaon (if you come to think of it), if you want comfort, if you want projects easily, if you want to be in with the group, just join the majority, join the administration. However, there are times when you have to make a decision. First of all, taga-Dabaw ko dili nako puwede byaan ang mga taga-Davao (I am from Davao and I cannot leave Davao behind), like former President Duterte and Vice President Duterte,” he said.
He added that those who allied with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. must be respected. “We respect the voice of the majority, and we must also respect the voice of the minority,” he said.