Bulakenyos welcome Aksyon Demokratiko presidential aspirant and Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso when he visited Dec. 3 market vendors in Meycauayan Public Market and Marilao Fortune Market in Bulacan. (Contributed)
CITY OF MEYCAUAYAN—In an apparent change of heart, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso praised Friday the COVID-19 pandemic response of the Duterte administration.
The Aksyon Demokratiko presidential aspirant issued the remark when he met residents in this city, adding that the government’s recent three-day vaccination drive is “worth commending” and that President Duterte deserves the credit despite the widespread confusion that marred the government’s initial pandemic response.
“Pangamba at takot sa impeksyon, pangamba at takot sa hanapbuhay, dahil dito, nagdulot ito ng konting pagkakalito. But life must go on. We give credit where credit is due,” he said.
Domagoso added: “Totoo naman kapuri-puri ‘yung ginawa ni Pangulong Duterte at ng IATF, kung saan yung mga lokal na pamahalaan na nabakunahan na namin. Lahat tumulong naman sa probinsya, which ginawa namin.”
The simultaneous massive vaccination drive held Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 was launched amid the looming threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
More than seven million people received COVID-19 jabs during the three-day campaign, according to the Department of Health.
While the current administration may not have been perfect, Domagoso said Duterte listens to the public and corrects the mistakes of the people working under him.
“May mga bagay na ‘di perpekto. Pero as long as nakikinig yung leader doon sa talbog o pagkakadapa ng kanyang mga tao at ikinocorrect naman niya, that’s what you call learning the lesson and moving forward,” he said.
.
“Tulad halimbawa, yung sa face shield, in-argue ko yung isang ahensya ng gobyerno pero nakita mo naman dininig ni President Duterte yung request ng taumbayan. Ako, in-echo ko lang naman,” he added.
Three months earlier, Domagoso publicly criticized the government’s COVID-19 pandemic response and accused the government of inefficiency, corruption, and politicking.
The 47-year-old said criticisms are necessary to public service, but these have to be based on the public interest, not political colors.
“So, you argue on the basis of ‘pag alam mong makakasama sa tao. You have moral obligation to say it. Hindi yung makakontra lang dahil di mo kapartido,” he said.
Domagoso said history would judge President Duterte and how he fulfilled his promises to the public.
“He’s right. Nagawa niya yung dapat niya magawa kung ano man ‘yung pinangako niya. ‘Yung history will judge him, not me. History will also judge me as Mayor of the City of Manila later on. For now, as far as we’re concerned, he’s still the President. He will do his part. As for me, as Mayor, I’ll do my part,” he said.
Moreno was joined by his running mate Dr. Willie Ong when they paid a courtesy call on Gov. Daniel Fernando, Board Member Alex Castro, and other provincial officials.