Sara Duterte, Hugpong bets campaign in Jolo 3 months after church bombing

JOLO —Administration coalition Hugpong ng Pagbabago led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte made a rare campaign stop here on Thursday before a 7,000-strong crowd just three months after the Jolo church bombing which left at least 20 people dead.

Sara, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, was joined by two other HNP Senate bets—former Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Francis Tolentino and former Philippine National Police Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

Sara said Thursday’s campaign stop was her third time to visit Sulu, but it was the first on a positive note.

“Pangatlong beses ko na rito. ‘Yung una, dahil may nasunugan. Pangalawa, dahil church bombing. Pangatlo ngayon, at masaya ako dahil andito ako sa masayang dahilan,” Sara said.

“Marami pong salamat sa oras ninyo, sa pagkakataon po na binigay ninyo. Mahal po ang oras ninyo dahil lahat po may trabaho, pero pinahiram niyo po kami ng inyong oras, pati na rin ng gym at sound system. Hindi po lahat sa Pilipinas ay nabibigyan ng ganitong oportunidad,” she added.

The administration slate is campaigning through the two provinces of the new Bangsamoro autonomous region—Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Duterte won big in Sulu during the 2016 polls, 197,000 votes as against Roxas’ 26,443 votes.

Hugpong’s rally in Sulu was by Benjamin Loong who is running for Sulu governor under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas party against incumbent and PDP Laban bet Abdusakur Tan. —NB, GMA News