Moreno a Duterte secret candidate? ‘Whoever says this is high on drugs’

FILE PHOTO: Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said on Friday that those who are claiming he is President Rodrigo Duterte’s secret presidential candidate may be high on drugs because they could easily be triggered by suspicions immediately.

Moreno was asked by reporters in an ambush interview about an article claiming that the administration has allowed to lend Senator Bong Go’s chief of staff to work for Moreno’s camp in preparation for the 2022 national elections.

According to the mayor, such claims are not true.

“Well, naka-drugs ‘yong tumira nun. Adik ‘yon tamang hinala eh. Hindi po totoo ‘yon. Ito naman eh malayang bansa, kala ko ba bawal ang drugs, ano kaya tinira no’n, pa-share naman.  That is not true,” he said.

(Well, I think anyone who wrote that is on drugs.  He’s like an addict who makes quick assumptions.  This is a free country — I thought drugs are not allowed, what could he have taken? Can he show it to us?  That is not true.)

“That is not true. Kami ay kandidato ng Aksyon Demokratiko na nag-apply sa tao, bilang pangulo ang inyong lingkod at bilang pangalawang pangulo, at sampu ng aming mga kasamahang senador, at mga konsehal, governor, congressman, vice mayor, mayor at mga board member. That is not true, definitely not true,” he added.

(That is not true. We are candidates of the Aksyon Demokratiko, who are applying to the people, with me as president and other members as vice president, including several of our senatorial candidates, councilors, governors, lawmakers, vice mayors, mayors and other board members.  That is not true, definitely not true.)

Moreno’s campaign manager Lito Banayo also denied the accusations, saying that it is merely fake news.

Reports on Friday claimed that Go’s chief of staff have been in communication with Moreno’s camp to assist the local executive in his presidential candidacy.

Moreno, Francisco Domagoso in real life, has expressed intent to proceed on his presidential bid, even with calls for him and other possible candidates from the opposition — like Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Manny Pacquiao — to form a united slate for the 2022 polls.

However, Pacquiao had already filed his own certificate of candidacy (COC) for president earlier, with Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza as his running mate.  Moreno on the other hand is expected to file his COC on October 4.

READ: LOOK: Isko Moreno fills out COC for president, to file it on October 4 

READ: Manny Pacquiao files certificate of candidacy for president 

For Robredo, she has not yet made a decision on whether she would run in the 2022 elections, even as opposition coalition group 1Sambayan had already nominated her to be their presidential bet.

READ: Robredo declining nomination for president a ‘remote’ scenario – Carpio 

JPV