Isko Moreno denies anti-Chinese racist allegations

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

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has sought to appease hurt feelings from the Filipino-Chinese community, clarifying that his remarks against China and its incursions in Philippine waters were directed only toward “mainlanders.”

The Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer drew accusations of racism for using a local slur on Chinese people when he threatened to kick them out of the country during a recent event in Bataan province.

“I’m pertaining to Chinese mainlanders, the ones occupying our islands. And I don’t care. I don’t sugarcoat. Those navy, those fishermen from China, continue to occupy our space. We need not sugarcoat our words,” Domagoso told reporters on Friday.

Domagoso said members of the country’s Filipino-Chinese community understood his stance on the issue and knew he was not referring to them.