Should honesty be an issue? Mangudadatu says ‘hindi masyado’
Dong Mangudadatu speaks in front of the crowd in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA
MANILA, Philippines – While honesty is important, it should not be really an issue in the elections, at least during the campaign period, administration senatorial candidate Dong Mangudadatu said Wednesday.
“Honesty is important,” Mangudadatu answered when asked in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel if it was important to him.
However, when asked if honesty should be an issue in the 2019 polls, he answered: “Hindi naman masyado.”
“After the election pwede ‘yun. Sa election proper hindi lahat ng politiko nagsasabi nang totoo,” he added.
Mangudadatu noted that during the campaign season, “everybody lies … kung kinakailangan,” he said.
“Kasi sa kampanya lalo na sa big crowd, kailangan magpatawa ka. Hindi lahat ng joke mo sa entablado totoo. You have to impress the audience,” Mangudadatu added.
“Depende na sa taumbayan yan, kasi kanya-kanya namang bet yan eh,” Mangudadatu said when asked if the public should vote for dishonest candidates.
“Kahit nagsisinungaling yung politiko, kung gusto nya (voter) iboto, we cannot blame that (voter) kung ‘yun ang gusto niya,” he added.
However, the senatorial candidate reminded voters that elected senators would serve for six years and they should put the future of the country in consideration when choosing who to vote for.
“Dapat maisip ng ating mga kababayan na anim na taon manunungkulan ang isang senador,” he said, adding “Nakasalalay dito yung kinabuksan ng ating bansa.”
The issue of honesty in the 2019 elections rose after Davao City Mayor and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party chair Sara Duterte said that “honesty should not be an issue” in the 2019 elections.
READ: As poll bets trade barbs, Sara Duterte says ‘Everybody lies’
Duterte-Carpio earlier issued the statement as she accused opposition senatorial candidate Gary Alejano of lying.
She indicated that all candidates lie.
“Walang isang kandidato diyan na hindi nagsisinungaling kaya hindi dapat nagiging issue ang honesty ngayon,” Duterte-Carpio earlier said in an interview. /cbb
READ: Sara Duterte: Alejano lying on accusation vs Bong Go
