MANILA, Philippines — Isn’t every politician’s dream to become the president and serve the country?
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Wednesday had this to say when sought for his opinion if he will most likely consider running for the country’s next president.
“President, ‘di ba? Hindi ba iyon ‘yung maximum? As a general rule, lahat gusto maging presidente kapag nasa gobyerno ka na. Lahat ‘yan papangarapin, lahat ‘yan gusto na maging presidente at makapaglingkod sa Pilipinas,” Moreno said during an online Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines forum, responding to a query on what national position he will most likely choose in 2022.
(President right? Isn’t that the maximum? As a general rule, all those in government want to be president. They will dream of that, all of them would want to be president and would want to serve the country.)
Moreno said he would, for now, lead the efforts to address the coronavirus disease pandemic in Manila instead of focusing on the elections.
“For now, tirahin ko muna itong pandemya. Kapag panatag na lahat kapag wala nang kaba, panatag na lahat, then, we talk politics a few months before 2022. Kasi people, I think, people will remember, where were you in this time of crisis. People will never forget this because napakahirap ng sitwasyon,” the mayor said.
(For now, let us first address this pandemic. If everyone is already sure, if there are no problems anymore, then we talk politics a few months before 2022. Because people, I think people will remember where you were in this time of crisis. People will never forget this because the situation is so difficult.)
He also underscored “destiny” in being elected as the president of the Philippines, citing that all those rushing to get the post would fail.
“Destiny yan, lahat nung nagplano niyan natalo lalo nung naging atat, natalo rin. Yung nagmadali? Maraming ganyan. Kusang dumadating ‘yan (presidency) saka tao nagbibigay niyan,” he said.
(That is destiny, all those who made plans or those who would lose especially those who are rushing to run for it, would lose. Those in a hurry? We have many cases like these. That would come in due time and it would be the people who will give us that opportunity.)
In 2019, Moreno turned down claims that he would run for president in the 2022 elections. He said he is instead eyeing to teach his practices in the local government once his stint as Manila mayor ends.[ac]