BY ASHZEL HACHERO and WENDELL VIGILIA
MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso yesterday continued his pro-Duterte positioning, saying he is looking to adopt the latter as a guest senatorial candidate of his Aksyon Demokratiko party in the 2022 national elections.
This is apart from Moreno saying he would vote for Duterte in next year’s polls.
Moreno’s statement came nearly a week after he said he would not refuse an endorsement from Duterte if the latter chooses to support his presidential bid after Sen.Christopher “Bong” Go dropped out of the presidential race.
“I would love him to be a part of the Senate slate as a guest candidate because he no longer has a presidential candidate,” he explained, referring to Go’s withdrawal.
The statement also followed Moreno’s remarks that he supports Duterte’s advocacies that are geared towards helping the people and putting an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vice President Leni Robredo, the opposition’s presidential aspirant, said while Moreno’s support for President Duterte’s senatorial bid is his choice, it is clearly a reflection of the kind of “aspirations and values” that he has as a leader.
“Karapatan naman niya yun (That’s his right),” Robredo said. “Pero ‘yung choices naman natin, hindi lang iyong for the slate… lahat iyon laging reflection siya ng aspirations natin, reflection ng values na pinahahalagahan natin (But our choices, not only for the senatorial slate, are always a reflection of our aspirations, a reflection of the values that we care for).”
Robredo, who was in Baguio City for a series of engagements yesterday, joined the City Hall’s flag ceremony and gave a tribute to the medical frontliners as Baguio celebrates its employees’ week.
Robredo also thanked Mayor Benjamin Magalong and the local government of Baguio for practicing “good governance during this unprecedented health crisis,” recognizing the city as one of the best performing LGUs as far as vaccination and contact tracing is concerned.
She also joined Magalong in a tour of the Smart City Command Center which uses state-of-the-art technology in responding to emergencies and improving health care systems in the city.
The Vice President later greeted her supporters and volunteers who welcomed her in a static caravan on Upper Session Road.
Moreno, last August was hit by Duterte for his past sexy photos and the supposed “disorder” in the mayor’s vaccination sites. Moreno then hit the Duterte administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the controversial policy on the use of face shields.
On Monday however, Moreno is all praises for the outgoing President, calling him a capable leader.
He said Duterte will be the fourth senatorial candidate that he would vote for, after Samira Gutoc, Carl Balita and Jopet Sison who are in his ticket.
“I’m going to vote for him personally. I’m going to endorse him personally kung papayag siya (if he will agree). I’ll be honored. I’ll be humbled na umoo si Pangulong Duterte (if President Duterte agrees),” Moreno told reporters in a brief interview in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu.
“Nakuha ko nga siyang iboto, hindi ko pa ba siya makuhang i-adopt (I will vote for him, why can’t I adopt him)?” he added.
Moreno has vowed to provide P10,000 cash assistance to each family who lost their belongings to a fire that razed a residential area in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, last November 26.
Moreno flew to Cebu recently and checked on the condition of the more than 900 displaced families, who are now living in temporary shelters at the Alaska Mambaling Elementary School and Mambaling Barangay Hall gymnasium.
In his visit to the fire victims, Domagoso was accompanied by Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia, who also joined the Manila mayor during his listening tour around the province back in November.
“Each family will receive P10,000,” said Moreno, the standard bearer of Aksyon Demokratiko.
Moreno also stressed he would have no problem adopting Duterte as long as the latter would not be a guest candidate of the other presidential contenders.
As to why he is voting for Duterte, Moreno said the public cannot discount what the former has done for the country, adding he is also capable and qualified to become a senator.
“Si President Duterte di natin puwede tawaran ang kakayahan (We cannot belittle President Duterte’s abilities). I think he is capable of doing the job. He is a qualified candidate for the Senate, in fairness to him,” he said.
He cited as examples of Duterte’s accomplishments the Clark airport project that he said would eventually benefit Manila residents, and the Tutuban-Malolos-Clark railway project.
“Sa dami ng nagawa ni Pangulong Duterte, siguro naman sa labingdalawang senador, hindi naman kalabisan na iboto natin siya bilang senador (Considering what he has done, I don’t think it will be too much to vote for him as senator),” he said.
Moreno reiterated he can work with anybody from either the opposition or the administration.
However, he said there is no talk or discussion with Duterte’s camp about any endorsement.
“I’ll be humbled and honored to endorse him if and if he will give me that honor to adopt him to our slate… For now, let us not jump the gun,” he said.
Moreno has long been rumored to be Duterte’s “secret candidate” in the 2022 polls but he has denied this.
Ernest Ramil, Aksyon Demokratiko chairman, said the party stands the Moreno’s statement to support Duterte’s senatorial candidacy and the mayor consulted the party before making the statement.
He also said Aksyon is not an opposition party but a centrist one, meaning they are not necessarily against the administration.
He said Aksyon believes “there are current administration policies and programs worth worth continuing, while there are some that can be discontinued, improved or rectified.”
Earlier, Moreno said he would continue the anti-drug crackdown of the Duterte administration if he won the presidential race, but added its focus would be on big-time drug lords while assuring the protection of human rights in carrying out the operation.
He also cited the administration’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program as one worth continuing.
