BY ROGER M. BALANZA

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio said that her party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) is willing to help the embattled Partido Demokratiko Plipino/Lakas ng Bayan ( PDP-Laban) which is wracked by an internal conflict between two warring factions.

But will Inday Sara include in his political benevolence Davao del Norte First District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez who she said is an “asshole” for  insulting HNP?

Alvarez is also at the center of the disunity troubling PDP/Laban,  with a PDP bloc calling for his ouster as secretary general, accusing him of violations of party rules.

PDP/Laban, President Rodrigo Duterte’s vehicle in his 2016 presidential run, was the ruling party in the House of Representatives before its secretary general Alvarez was ousted and replaced as Speaker by former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo.

PDP/Laban currently suffers from a leadership crisis and its ranks depleted by mass exodus of members to other parties after the Alvarez ouster.

A bloc led by Rogelio Garcia has voted out Senator Koko Pimentel as party president and Alvarez as secretary general during  a recent national assembly.

HNP is a Davao Region-based regional political party organized by the presidential daughter along with the governors of the Davao Region.

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

“HNP respects the history, experience and the wisdom of the PDP-Laban. HNP finds it truly unfortunate that PDP-Laban is embroiled in internal problem and hopes that competing party members resolve their differences,” Inday Sara said as an initial attempt by her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, who chairs the PDP-Laban, failed to settle the row.

In Davao del Norte, however, Inday Sara’s offer of help may not extend to Alvarez.

Inday Sara has called Alvarez an “asshole”  and vowed to campaign against his reelection in the 2019 mid-term election, for calling HNP as an “opposition party” not recognized by President Duterte.

In preparation for a clash with Inday Sara’s HNP, Alvarez has organized a bloc called “PDP/Laban Alvarez Wing” as a vehicle for his reelection.

The ex-Speaker said the Alvarez wing will field a slate against the candidates of Inday Sara’s HNP in next year’s polls.

But Alvarez is facing an insurmountable calvary in 2019.

He has not only made an enemy out of presidential daughter Inday Sara.

He has also estranged himself from his former political allies and benefactors Second District Rep. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr. and Governor Anthony “AGR” del Rosario, who have joined Inday Sara’s HNP. On top of this, HNP is reportedly fielding former governor Rodolfo “Dolfo” del Rosario, the governor’s father, to contest Alvarez’s reelection.