Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Vice President Leni Robredo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno raised questions over Vice President Leni Robredo’s reasoning to run for president, asking why she is basing it only with the goal of stopping the Marcoses’ return to power.
Moreno aired his concerns during a press conference on Friday, just after Robredo said that the local executive’s stance on the presidential candidacy of former senator Ferdinand Marcos — son of the late dictator and former president Ferdinand Marcos — was a factor in her decision to join the 2022 presidential race.
According to Moreno, Robredo should have run because of Filipinos in poverty, not because of a quarrel or spat between political families.
“‘Yan lang ba ang dahilan kung bakit siya tatakbo? Paano naman kaming mga Pilipino, wala kaming trabaho? Maraming Pilipino, nagdidildil ng asin, maraming Pilipino, hindi malaman ano ang naghihintay sa kanya sa kinabukasan. Marcos na naman?” Moreno asked.
(Is that the reason why is she running? How about the Filipinos who are jobless? Many Filipinos who are still marginalized, a lot of Filipinos do not know what’s in store for them in the future. Still her motivation is Marcos?)
“Bakit kailangan uminog ang mundo namin ngayon sa away ng Marcos at Aquino? Sa away ng anak ni Marcos, at mga anak at kasama ng yellowtards?” he added.
(Why would our world revolve around the quarrel between Marcos and Aquino? In the quarrel with the son of Marcos, and the children and colleagues of those yellowtards?)
The mayor then drew a shot at Robredo’s new color preference — pink — which has been seen as a move away from the often-criticized yellow color of the Liberal Party.
“Ay pink na pala sorry [Ow it’s pink already, sorry],” he quipped.
Moreno’s reaction was in response to Robredo’s admission that the mayor’s statements played a part in her decision to run. Weeks ago, Moreno was seen to be a supporter of the Marcoses, as he said that the revision of history would be possible if the younger Marcos wins in 2022.
Robredo said that the biggest considerations for her were to prevent a government similar to President Rodrigo Duterte’s, and stop the Marcoses from returning to Malacañang.
“In a way. I don’t want to go into details pero sa akin kasi merong mga non-negotiable, and ‘yong mga Marcos non-negotiable [but there are non-negotiables, and about Marcos is non-negotiable],” Robredo said.
READ: Historical revisionism possible if Bongbong Marcos gets elected – Isko Moreno
Just a few months ago, Moreno and Robredo were talking about forming a possible unified coalition to strengthen the opposition’s chances against Duterte’s anointed candidate
According to Robredo, she was willing to forgo her candidacy if she believes it was the best for the opposition, which means a style of government similar to Duterte’s, and the return of the Marcoses to power would be prevented.
During her own announcement on Thursday, Robredo said that there were invites for her to join other candidates’ slate, but she declined as her proposal for the unity talks were not about getting support for her candidacy, but more of finding out whether they shared the same principles and views for the government.
READ: Robredo reveals reason for breakdown of unity talks with other candidates
Then, she made an apparent swipe at her opponents, saying that candidates should make it clear where they stand on issues, or else their affiliations would be questioned.
READ: Robredo: If you can’t call out mistakes, if you compromise, where do you stand?
Earlier, Robredo revealed that she no longer fears that she and Moreno would split the opposition vote as it has been clear that they stand on different grounds.
READ: Robredo says talks with other bets convinced her to run for president
READ: ‘We’re the real opposition,’ says Robredo on splitting votes with Isko Moreno