Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Dr. Willie Ong. Contributed photo
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno asked his supporters to also vote for his running mate Doc Willie Ong come election time, to ensure that the two ranking officials of the executive branch would work harmoniously.
Moreno during his visit to Talavera, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday asked the crowd whether they are not sick of instances wherein the president and the vice president always fight it out, noting that the opposition has not done anything but to attack President Rodrigo Duterte.
“So promise, tutulungan niyo kami ni Doc Willie? Paki-suyo, ‘wag niyo kaming paghihiwalayin ha? Alam niyo kung bakit? Mapagod na kayo sa away ng pangulo at pangalawang pangulo, ‘di ba kayo napapagod?” Moreno said.
“Kayo din naman ang may kasalanan eh. ‘Boboto ko ‘tong presidenteng ‘to, sino ba kaaway nito para may insurance ako?’” he joked.
Moreno then threw shade at the opposition — apparently at Vice President Leni Robredo — whose Liberal Party has been critical of Duterte’s administration.
“Oo nakakapagod. Pansin niyo, anong ginawa nila? Inaway lang nang inaway si Presidente. Pinaglingkuran ‘yong partido nila. Kung maka-pangako sa tao, wagas, no’ng manalo ang inunawa, ‘yong partido nila,” he claimed.
“Kaya sinasabi ko sa inyo mag-iingat kayo d’yan sa mga partido, ‘yang partido ‘pag halalan lang ‘yan, ‘pag tapos n’yan sila-sila lang ang papartihan. Totoo naman di ba, tino-tolongges tayo. Nagpapaloko lang kami, pero may hangganan ang lahat,” he added.
Prior to his tirades, Moreno and Robredo were once in talks about a possible tandem to unite the opposition. However, talks fell out as both officials filed their certificates of candidacy for president.
INQUIRER.net has sought the side of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) about Moreno’s remarks but they have not replied as of posting time.
READ: Robredo reveals reason for breakdown of unity talks with other candidates
READ: Isko pokes fun at #WithdrawIsko, Robredo’s call for unity after she ‘dropped’ LP
The local chief executive also did not mention it, but his expression of support for Ong comes as several administration supporters are exploring the possibility of pairing Moreno with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio — daughter of President Duterte — in the 2022 national elections.
On Tuesday, Moreno said that he would be thankful, in advance, if he gets the endorsement of Duterte, given that the President’s perceived candidate, Senator Bong Go, has dropped out of the race.
READ: Isko Moreno ‘hopeful’ of getting Duterte’s backing as Bong Go withdraws
Duterte-Carpio, who is seeking the vice presidency, is running with former senator Bongbong Marcos who is running for the presidency.
Moreno is one of the several presidential aspirants for the 2022 national elections, along with Robredo and Marcos. Other potential presidential candidates include Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, labor leader Leody de Guzman, and former military man Antonio Parlade Jr.