Manila Mayor Isko Moreno in Maguindanao. (Photo from his Facebook)
BULUAN, Maguindanao, Philippines – Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso pledged his support for the Bangsamoro government if he gets elected in an interview after speaking before a crowd of 50,000 people here.
The 47-year-old Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer gave the guarantee during an interview when he was asked if an Isko Moreno presidency would be a threat to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“If ever [I get elected], you can hold me to my word. You here in the BARMM can rest assured — as [former] Governor Toto [Mangudadatu] said earlier, as well as the vice governor — that the current law to ensure an orderly peace process and development for Muslim families here in Mindanao is something that I will advance,” Moreno said in Filipino.
Moreno was in BARMM Sunday as the special guest in the mass oath-taking of some 20,000 members of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party.
The event was led by Maguindanao Second District Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, former Maguindanao Second District Rep. Zajid Dong Mangudadatu, former Buluan Mayor Ibrahim “Jong” Mangudadatu, and former Maguindanao First District Rep. Bai Sandra Sema.
“Have you heard the commentaries I made earlier? What’s good here is all I have to do is to copy. I will just implement it, right? In effect, there’s a meeting of minds, and technically and specifically, there’s already an agreement. So, all I have to do for the people to get the benefits of the law is to be a leader or implementor — and that’s my commitment,” Moreno said.
“We will always seek for peace for purposes ng prosperity that the lives of the people will be raised to a higher level. If, as you say, other candidates don’t like Muslims, well, that’s their decision,” he added.
Mindanao leg of the campaign
With Moreno in the Mindanao leg of his campaign were Aksyon Demokratico senatorial candidates Samira Gutoc, Carl Balita, and Jopet Sison.
The team had already gone through sorties in Metro Manila and several provinces in Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Eastern Visayas.
Gutoc received a hero’s welcome upon her arrival here, being a Muslim herself and a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC). The BTC was tasked to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.
Also present in the BARMM event were former Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones, who is also the president of the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee). and Team Isko political and campaign strategist Angelito Banayo.
Equal treatment regardless of social status
If he becomes president, Moreno assured all Muslims nationwide that they could expect an ideal, prudent, and efficient government that would treat its people equally regardless of social status.
In June 2021, Moreno inaugurated Manila’s first Muslim Cemetery and Cultural Hall inside the Manila South Cemetery. Previously, Muslims in Manila have found it a struggle to bury their dead for lack of proper burial grounds.
“For me, the government that we will make people feel in Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon is this: Poor, middle class, rich — a government that treats people equally. There will be equal opportunity, And that’s the only way to achieve long-lasting peace and prosperity in all corners, islands of our country. And I will do that, with God’s grace,” Moreno said.
“May God and the people give me the strength and the opportunity to make their dreams come true. Nasasanla naman ang laway ko eh,” Moreno said.
The last expression Filipino roughly translates into English as: “You can take it to the bank.”
Alliance with Mangudadatus
Upon arrival at the Awang Airport in Maguindanao, Moreno and his party immediately went to a jampacked gymnasium for a meeting with labor leaders who were all shouting ” Isko, Isko, Isko.”
There was thunderous applause when he was called to speak to them.
From there, Moreno and his team went on a tour of the Maguindanao Methane Gas facility, which he said would be a key for Mindanao to grow and become rich. They were accompanied by former Rep. Dong Mangudadatu.
“I lit a fire earlier outside. You are so lucky that you have natural gas here. It’s just there underground,” Moreno said.
“How did Brunei become rich? With natural gas. How did Saudi [Arabia] become rich? Also with gas. That means Mindanao will also become right. But give us our share, okay. Don’t keep it all to yourselves,” he added in jest.
Following their visit to the facility, Moreno and his party then proceeded to a big stage in front of more or less 50,000 residents in Buluan where he was formally introduced to the people there as the one being endorsed by Maguindanao leaders — particularly the Mangudadatus who are part of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party.
Moreno’s political alliance with the Mangudadatus is seen as something that will boost his numbers in Mindanao.
Mangudadatu and his wife Sharifa Akeel, who is running for governor in Sultan Kudarat, earlier expressed their full support for Moreno’s presidential bid during his proclamation rally last Feb. 8.
Maguindanao, which has a voting population of 766,497 as of 2019, is the most populous province in the BARMM. Sultan Kudarat, on the other hand, has 452,000 registered voters.
‘Boss, anytime’
On arriving at his speaking venue in Buluan, Moreno was met by chants of “Isko, Isko, Isko” and “Moreno, Moreno, Moreno.”
There were thousands of Maguindanaons present who wanted to see him in the flesh.
“First of all, my thanks to God. We know it’s summer now. But almost 50,000 people who are in this event has given us some shade,” he said.
“I’m really grateful to God, and I’m really grateful to our Muslim brothers and sisters. And thank you very much to the Mangudadatu family, our ministers, our officers, and various other groups. As you may have heard, they went here on their own. And they’re hoping that in return I will just give them proper service,” he went on.
“And I’m happy that I was not wrong in deciding to start here our travel through Mindanao in this campaign,” he added.
Datu Ibrahim “Jong” Mangudadatu welcomed Moreno to the town and assured him that he and his party mates were very much welcome to campaign in Maguindanao.
“Mayor Isko, anyone is welcome in our town,” Mangudadatu said. “Boss, anytime that you want to travel here and stage a rally, you can. Our Kuya [older brother] Toto is there, as well as my brother, Congressman Zajid Dong Mangudadatu. Boss, thank you very much that you were able to attend the mass oath-taking activity of UBJP.”
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