JV Ejercito praises Isko Moreno for ‘keeping his cool’ despite Duterte snub

FILE Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and former Senator JV Ejercito.

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator JV Ejercito has praised Manila Mayor Isko Moreno for “keeping his cool” amid the recent tension between him and President Rodrigo Duterte on the distribution of aid in the capital city.

Ejercito, son of former President Joseph Estrada, who in the last elections lost the mayoralty in Manila to Moreno, pointed out that despite the tension, Moreno even thanked Duterte.

“All is well. I hope. Props to @IskoMoreno for keeping his cool and even thanking PRRD,” he said in a Twitter post on Thursday.

All is well. I hope.

Props to @IskoMoreno for keeping his cool and even thanking PRRD.

This is what we need from leaders in difficult situations—the maturity to ignore political noise, the level-headed leadership to focus on the job at hand, and the decency to do what is right.

— JV Ejercito (@jvejercito) August 12, 2021

“This is what we need from leaders in difficult situations — the maturity to ignore political noise, the level-headed leadership to focus on the job at hand, and the decency to do what is right,” he added.

Moreno earlier announced that cash aid in the city would proceed as planned, even thanking Duterte despite their recent verbal sparring.

Duterte earlier chided a city government for being “disorganized,” prompting him to take away the local authorities’ power to distribute cash aid.

While he did not directly name the city and the mayor, Duterte hinted that the local chief executive of that city has “bikini” photos circulating online.

Soon after, Moreno came out with a Facebook post showing the certificate of recognition from the Department of Interior and Local Government issued just two months before for its efficiency in the distribution of the government cash aid to constituents.

EDV