Not just bullies, but also ‘matapobre,’ Isko Moreno says in latest tirade vs Robredo

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ANGONO, Rizal (Updated) — Presidential candidate Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday continued his bashing of Vice President Leni Robredo, this time rekindling critics’ perception that her campaign and her supporters are “matapobre,” or elitist.

In his latest salvo, Moreno insisted that he is not picking a fight with Robredo, but in the same breath, he again attacked Robredo for being a “bully.”

“Hindi naman ako nakikipag-away. I am just stating facts, na bully sila. Sila, matapobre, maliit tingin nila sa atin. Mataas ang pagtingin nila sa sarili nila, kaya sila nanghihingi ng withdrawal noong kanilang kalaban. Wala namang away doon, we are just stating facts. Na ang mga pink, bully, at sina Leni, matapobre. Yun lang yon. That’s my opinion, and that’s it,” he said in an ambush interview at the Angono Municipal Hall, where he made a courtesy call on Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon.

(I am not picking a fight. I am just stating facts that they are bullies. And that they look down on the poor, they look down on us. They think they are so high and mighty, that’s why they sought the withdrawal of their rivals. I am not fighting them, we are just stating facts, that the pinks are bully, and that Leni looks down on the poor. That’s it. That’s my opinion, and that’s it.)

Moreno said this was the reason that some Filipinos didn’t want to join the “yellow” or “pink” movement, which are the colors that critics associated with Robredo.

“Yun ang nararamdaman ng mga Pilipino bakit ayaw nila sa dilawan at sa yellow-pink, kasi nga matapobre sila, mataas ang pagtingin nila, masakit sila magsalita kapag maliit na tao,” he further said.

(That’s what the Filipino feel, as to why they hate the yellows and yellow-pink, because they look down on the poor, they look up to themselves. They use insulting words to common people.)

“Sila matapobre. Bully sila. And I will not allow bullies kasi ugaling-ugali yan ng matataas. Ugaling-ugali yan ng matataas na maliit ang pagtingin sa mga nasa ibaba. Yung mga nasa ibaba, tinitingnan nilang mababa talaga. O, ngayon nakahanap na sila ng katapat,” Moreno added.

(They look down on the poor. They are bullies. And I will not allow bullies because that’s the attitude of those in the higher class. That’s their attitude when they see those who are poor as lower than they are. And those who are poor then believe that they’re lower. Well, now they’ve met their match.)

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The Aksyon Demokratiko’s standard bearer has even called Robredo “the godmother of all bullies,” even encouraging those who were intimidated by what he called “pink bullies” to join him in his crusade against them.

Despite Moreno’s incessant attacks, Robredo merely shrugged off his tirades, saying she would only focus on her campaign.

Moreno began his rants against Robredo during the Easter Sunday press conference that he and fellow candidates former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and Senator Panfilo Lacson held in Makati, which initially aimed at condemning the alleged push of the Robredo’s camp for her rivals to withdraw their presidential bid in order to have a bigger chance of defeating survey frontrunner, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Robredo’s camp, however, denied any moves to ask her rivals to withdraw as soon as the campaign period began.

‘Free booking’ remark

Meanwhile, on Friday, the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate slammed those who criticized his “free booking” quip, saying these highly opinionated individuals never understand the language of the streets used by ordinary people like himself, as they even put a spin on the joke to suit their vested interests.

“In the street, tanging ordinaryong Pilipino lamang ang makakaintindi sa lenguwahe namin. Yung mga mapag-mataas, matapobre, or yung feeling nila sila ang alta sociedad, will never understand the language o lenguwahe sa kalsada (In the street, only ordinary Filipinos can understand our language. Those who think highly of themselves, look down on the poor, and feel as if they’re high society, will never understand street language). We know ourselves. We know when and where to offend. And alam nila (they know) it’s joke time, it’s fun time and I am speaking their language,” Moreno said in an interview during a campaign sortie in Barangay Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City.

Moreno was referring to the criticisms he received from some LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex) groups after joking with his LGBTQ supporters in an interview with Rappler in Butuan City that his son Joaquin is “free for bookings.”

Among the groups that supposedly got offended by his quip were Pantay Pilipinas, which described the Manila mayor’s comments as a form of “toxic masculinity and fake allyship,” and Bahaghari, who said his banter was insulting to the LGBTQ community.

Moreno pointed out that these critics, especially those coming from supporters from his rival’s camps, are just finding ways to tweak the message — even if it was just a good-natured bantering between him and his allies — just to suit their vested interests.

“Yung nasa kabilang ilog, alam mo, kahit maghihilata ka sa kalye, kahit ano pa ang gawin mo, walang masasabing matino sa iyo,” Moreno said, stressing that what he is really doing is far different from what they want people to perceive about him.

(Those from the other side, you know, even though you lie down on the street or do whatever, they can’t say anything good about you.)

“So ang masasabi ko lang sa kanila, good luck. Iba yung sinasabi nila sa ginagawa namin. Bisita kayo sa city hall, gawa na ang banyo doon. You’ll see. Basta tayo, nung sinabi ko, Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon; mayaman, middle class, mahirap; babae, lalaki, bakla, tomboy — pantay-pantay, we mean it. And we practice it,” Moreno said.

(All I can say to them is good luck. What they’re saying is different from what they’re doing. Visit the city hall, our bathrooms are finished already, you’ll see. When it comes to me, when I say Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon; mayaman, middle class, poor; female, male, gay, lesbian — they’re equal and we mean it. We practice it.)

Under Moreno’s leadership, Manila is already a showcase of respect and protection of LGBTQ rights with his anti-discrimination ordinance and his promotion of equal opportunities to all productive members of society regardless of economic status, sexual orientation or preference.

Ordinance No. 8695, or the Manila LGBTQI Protection Ordinance, which aims to eliminate “any and all forms of discrimination against LGBTQI solely on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression” or SOGIE, was signed by Moreno on October 29, 2020.

Part of the Manila LGBTQI Protection Ordinance requires all businesses in the city to “provide gender-neutral toilets” for their permits to be approved or renewed. As Mayor Isko had said, the city hall had already installed such facilities in its premises.

The young and charismatic presidential aspirant has assured that if elected president, members of the LGBTQ community would not just be protected, but would be part of his governance.

Moreno said with the elections less than three weeks away, the latest developments will not change Team Isko’s strategy of going direct to the people through motorcades, town hall meetings and concert-rallies.

“Kaya pala galit na galit ang taong bayan sa mga dilaw. Kasi dati hindi ko makita ng maliwanag. Nina-navigate ko pa noon. Eh ngayon nakikita mo talaga, matapobre talaga. E sino ngayon ang magtatanggol sa mga ordinaryong pamilyang Pilipino kung pababayaan natin itong mga away nila? Kaya never akong nakipag-away sa kanila. I’m just stating facts. Simula ngayon, kalaban natin, mga kababayan kung kayo’y nakaranas ng pambu-bully, ng pagmamaliit ng mga nakatataas ng mga politikong ‘yan, samahan nyo ako, tapusin natin sila,” Moreno said.

Originally posted on April 22, 2022 at 01:32 a.m.

EDV, je