Isko Moreno willing to sign bank secrecy waiver, to open bank accounts

(FILE) Aspiring president Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso in Malabon City on Thursday, December 9, 2021. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno who is running for president in next year’s polls said he is willing to waive his rights under the Bank Secrecy Law and open his bank accounts in the spirit of transparency.

Moreno told reporters he is open to signing a waiver of his rights under Republic Act No. 1405, which prohibits the disclosure of or inquiry into deposits with any banking institutions and provides penalties of jail term or fines for offenders, so his bank accounts and financial transactions can be accessed.

“I do not have any problem with it. Wala naman tayong itinatago,” Moreno said when asked if he would agree to yield his rights under the law. As long as na ito ay hindi gagamitin sa panggigipit sa kapwa. Iyon ang dapat nating ingatan kasi karapatan rin naman ng mamamayan natin iyong kanilang privacy,” Moreno pointed out.

Moreno was in Barangay 775, Sagrada Familia in Manila’s San Andres District Friday to provide P10,000 cash assistance to each of the 197 families who were rendered homeless by a fire that struck their community last Dec. 7.

Moreno said he and his running mate, Dr. Willie Ong, and the Akson Demokratiko senatorial slate composed of Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc, and Jopet Sison, will continue to go to as many places as they can, greet and meet as many people as they can to listen to their problems and aspirations.

“Focused ako na kausapin ang tao, marinig ang tao, makita ang tao, malaman ko yung sitwasyon nila doon sa partikular na lugar kung saan man sila nakatira,” he said.

Moreno also shrugged off comments that he is already neglecting his duties and responsibilities as local chief executive because of his “listening tours” in the different parts of the country which aim to personally interact with the people.

Moreno said his detractors are entitled to their opinion especially on how he governs Manila.

“It would be better for our people to have this kind of activities kasi mas maririnig nila yung intensyon ng mga kandidato, at mas maririnig ng kandidato yung hinaing ng tao. Yun ang gusto kong magawa. At sa pakikinig sa kanila, marami akong natututunan,” Moreno stressed.

For the past two months, the Aksyon Demokratiko candidates have already visited the provinces of Cebu, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, Zambales, Bataan, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac and Batangas.

Moreno and his partymates have also been to the cities of Taguig, Paranaque, Malabon, Navotas, Caloocan, the municipality of Pateros and Quezon City.

In every province they visited,  Moreno’s priority is to have dialogues with farmers, fisherfolks, and ordinary Filipinos in the countryside, to personally hear their grievances.

Meanwhile, the 47-year-old presidential aspirant assured  Manileños, that the job of running the affairs of the country’s capital is not being neglected considering that his vice-mayor, Dr. Honey Lacuna, is there ready to assist him and serve the people of Manila.

“Basta tayo, dito sa Maynila walang tulugan. Tsaka maswerte ako sa vice mayor. ‘Yung vice mayor ko battle-tested, si Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna. She really knows the job of being the vice mayor,” Moreno said.

The Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer said if Lacuna will be fortunate to win in her bid to become the next mayor of Manila, she will do a terrific job in bringing quality and efficient service to the public.

“I think may awa ang Diyos maging mayor na rin ng Maynila si Doc Honey. Basta ipagkaloob ng Diyos at taga-lungsod ng Maynila, so that she will continue to build more housing, she will continue and build more hospitals, build more schools, then ‘yung mga ayuda ng Manileño, ‘yung allowance ng mga senior citizens, mga allowance ng PWDs, solo-parents, ‘yung allowance ng mga estudyante, ng K-12, at allowance ng mga nasa kolehiyo, tapos ‘yung mga ayuda kapag Pasko at may kalamidad, tapos ‘yun pang infrastructure development, tapos ‘yung open green space,” Moreno explained.

“Itutuloy niya (Vice Mayor Lacuna) lahat ‘yun. Creating more parks and green spaces in the entire city of Manila for our environment. I think she knows everything already. She knows what to do kasi she was part of it, she is part of it. Lagi siyang kasama, she knows it very well and most of these passed through the city council under her leadership,” he said.

Asked what advice would he give to Lacuna if ever she emerged victorious in next year’s elections,  Moreno said the most important thing is to ensure that the people have enough food on their table and will not go hungry and provide them with houses and jobs so they will enjoy a better life.

“Iyan ang kabilin-bilinan ko kay Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna. ‘Yang kalsada, walang kakalam na sikmura ‘yan pagdating ng alas-dose. Bubungkalin lang ‘yan kaya kailangan mauna ang bituka ng tao at mauna ang lupa para sa tao,” Moreno pointed out.

“Bigyan mo ng bahay para may disente mauuwian at pumanatag ang damdamin niya araw-araw. ‘Yun ang karapatan at bagay na makamit ng mamayan sa kanyang pamahalaan,” he added.

/MUF