MANILA - Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the political party of President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, on Friday said it was willing to help the ruling party PDP-Laban deal with its internal squabble, even as it maintained that it has no plans of becoming a national party.

“HNP respects the history, experience, and the wisdom of the PDP Laban Party. HNP finds it truly unfortunate that PDP Laban is embroiled in internal problem and hopes that competing party members resolve their differences,” HNP said in a statement.

“If there is anything that HNP can do to help PDP Laban, our group is ready to assist them.”

The party’s internal squabble deepened after a faction led by Rogelio Garcia replaced Senator Aquilino Pimentel III as party president, and elected their own set of leaders.

Former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was also replaced as secretary-general during a “national assembly” in Quezon City last July 27, while Special Assistant to the President Bong Go was elected as the party’s national auditor.

Senator Pimentel dismissed the actions of the group whose members, he said, have already been expelled from PDP-Laban. He also threatened to file actions against those who led the assembly.

Garcia’s camp has accused the Pimentel-led faction of violating the party’s rules by holding mass oath-taking of new party members who did not undergo seminar.

SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE DAVAO REGION

The HNP has attracted politicians across the country as it seeks to tighten its ties with President Duterte, who remains popular among Filipinos.

Among the prominent political figures that have expressed interest in forging alliance with HNP is that of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and her allies in the Ilocos region.

HNP, however, stressed that it is a regional party whose members should only be from the Davao Region.

“While the Party has supporters outside of Davao Region, we advise them to form their own local parties or join other national parties — the NUP, NP, NPC, or PDP Laban,” HNP said.