Davao voters sees exodus of PDP-Laban members to HNP regional party

THE VOTING population in Davao City see members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) jumping ship to the newly-formed Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNP) regional party led by the city’s mayor, Sara Duterte-Carpio, according to a survey by the Institute of Popular Opinion (IPO) of the University of Mindanao (UM). President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the mayor’s father whom she succeeded, ran under the PDP-Laban banner for the national post. The survey, conducted April 13–22 this year with 1,200 respondents, indicated 79% of those who are aware of both parties anticipate local politicians in the Davao Region to join the HNP. “Baka may (There might be an) exodus to Hugpong,” said Dr. Maria Linda Arquiza, IPO-UM executive director. At the same time, respondents cautioned that budget and other forms of support could end up being divided between the PDP-Laban and HNP. — Maya M. Padillo