Isko Moreno shrugs off Davao ban on motorcades; Ka Leody calls caravans ‘wasteful’
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Manila mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Tuesday brushed aside Sara Duterte-Carpio’s ban on motorcades in Davao City, while socialist labor leader Ka Leody de Guzman agreed with the directive.
“Pwede naman ako maglakad sa Davao, maglalakad tayo … Basta welcome sila sa Maynila, hindi kailangan ng permit,” Domagoso said in an ambush interview in Tarlac.
(I could still do it in Davao while walking. But they are still welcome in Manila, no need for permits.)
READ: Isko Moreno supporters hold motorcades in Metro Manila, Cebu City
Duterte-Carpio, through an executive order released on Monday, prohibited all kinds of political caravans and motorcades in Davao City, citing rising fuel prices, among other reasons.
When asked if Domagoso would impose similar measures in a bid to save fuel, the mayor responded: “Why not?”
Motorcades wasteful, useless
De Guzman, on the other hand, agreed that caravans and motorcades should be prohibited as it does not contribute to election discourse, among other reasons.
“Ang mga campaign caravan at/o motorcade ay maaksaya at mas nagagamit pang-bandwagon ng mapeperang kandidato,” the labor leader said in a statement.
“Higit pa dyan, walang naiaambag ang mga ito para itaas ang diskurso ng halalan. Sangayon ako na ang mga ganitong aktibidad ay di na dapat pahintulutan,” he continued.
He also noted that the Davao City government’s ban should not be used to halt the campaign of its patron’s rivals.
De Guzman likewise said that it would be better if the Commission on Elections made the ban a policy.
“Mas mainam kung ito ay isasapatakaran ng Comelec at umpisahan na ang mga reporma sa halalan katulad ng sentralisadong pangangampanya na kung saan ang pagpapakilala at pagpapalaganap ng plataporma ng mga kandidato ay di nakabatay sa sariling kakayahang gumastos ng kandidato kundi ay pondohan ito ng estado at pantay na gagawin para sa lahat ng kandidato,” the candidate said.
(It would be better if the Comelec would make the caravan ban a policy and start with election reforms like centralizing campaigns wherein introducing and spreading platforms are not based on a candidate’s capability to spend money, but instead be funded by the state.)
