The Del Rosarios will challenge Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in the race to Congress in Davao del Norte’s First District.

Governor Anthony del Rosario said he or his father former Governor Rodolfo del Rosario could run against Alvarez, now representing the First District in Congress, in the 2019 elections.

The First District congressional post was previously separately held by Gov. del Rosario and his father in the past. Alvarez is on his first term.

Who among them will fight Alvarez will be decided soon by the Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNP).

HNP is a regional party formed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte with top officials of the Davao Region, including Gov. del Rosario.

Mayor Duterte said HNP would put up a regional slate in the 2019 elections.

She had vowed to campaign against Alvarez’s reelection after the Speaker described the HNP as an opposition party.

Top Davao Region elected officials—from governor down to barangay captains— have resigned in masse from the PDP-Laban, of which Alvarez is secretary general, to join HNP.