‘I’ll take the votes, they can have the pics’ – Isko on sortie crowds

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno campaigning in Maguindanao. (Photo from his Facebook)

SANTA ROSA, Laguna, Philippines — “I’ll take the votes, they can take the pictures,” Manila Mayor Franciso “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said in Filipino in an ambush interview in this city on Wednesday.

He was reacting to photographs of big crowds two other presidential candidates had been attracting.

“Basta sa akin boto na lang, sa kanila na ang picture,” he said.

“What’s good about what they’re doing is they achieve the perception that they’re strong because there are appear to have many supporters because of the drone shots,” Moreno said.

Last Sunday, the Pasig rally of  Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Francis Pangilinan got the largest crowd they had ever attracted so far — 137,000 according to the police estimate.

Last Tuesday, the Cavite rally of former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Hr and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio also drew tens of thousands of supporters.

Previously, Moreno said he did not have what he called a “motorpaid” — a play on the words “motorcade” and “paid,” implying paid participants.

He said he would prefer to conduct town hall meetings and visit remote places — which he called a “retail” style of campaigning.

ATM