‘Thank you in advance,’ says Isko if Duterte backs his bid after Go quits race

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Tuesday said he will not refuse support from anyone, including President Rodrigo Duterte, following Senator Bong Go’s announcement that he is quitting from the 2022 race.

“Kung ako ang mapupusuan nila, uy salamat, thank you in advance. Pero ayoko pa ring pangunahan sila until they say so…For the meantime, I’m always hopeful,” Moreno told reporters after his dialogue with motorcycle riders at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

(If they choose me, thank you, thank you in advance. But I don’t want to preempt their decision until they say so. For the meantime, I’m always hopeful.)

This, when asked if he is hoping that Duterte will back his presidential bid after Go’s withdrawal.

“Thank you in advance, hindi ako tatanggi. Ang pulubi hindi nakakapamili. Kailangan ko ng lahat ng klaseng tulong, ordinaryong tao, kahit sinong tao. Kasi mabigat na labang ito, malaki ang Pilipinas,” the mayor added.

(Thank you in advance, I will not refuse. Beggars can’t be choosers. I need all the help I can get from anyone, ordinary people, anyone. Because this is a serious battle, the Philippines is big.)

Go, who served as Duterte’s long-time aide before becoming a senator, recently announced he will be withdrawing from the 2022 presidential race.

In October, Go filed his candidacy to run for vice president under PDP-Laban’s Cusi faction.

But he eventually formalized his bid for the presidency as a substitute for Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan’s (PDDS) initial standard bearer, Grepor Belgica, last Nov. 16.

Moreno admitted needing as much support as he can to mount a successful presidential campaign.

“Kailangan ko ng tulong kasi alam mo naman solo katawan ako sa mundo ng public service. So kailangan ko ng mga allies, loyalists, believers, followers, and volunteers,” he said.

(I need help because I’m flying solo when it comes to the world of public service. So I need allies, loyalists, believers, followers, and volunteers.)

“For the meantime, habang umaasa ako na matulungan ng iba’t-ibang tao, makikipag-ugnayan ako lagi,” Moreno added.

(For the meantime, while I’m hoping for the support of all kinds of people, I will continue to connect with them.)

Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Manila Mayor Isko Moreno holds up a motorcycle helmet after his dialogue with Angkas drivers on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. Photo from Moreno’s campaign team

JPV