‘Please take care, keep yourself safe,’ Moreno told millions of times

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso answers questions from the media in a press conference on July 9, 2019. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Millions of “take care” messages have deluged Manila Mayor Isko Moreno since he assumed office two weeks ago.

Moreno admitted this Thursday even as he neither confirmed nor denied receiving any death threats as he rabidly enforced clean-up operations to remove filth and obstructions on historical sites and along major streets of the nation’s capital, including illegal vendors in Divisoria, Recto, and Quiapo.

“Sa buong buhay ko po, ngayon lang ako nakatanggap ng maraming ‘take care’, sa buong buhay ko sa public service,” Moreno quipped.

“Oo! Millions! Walang biro, millions,” he added.

In particular, he said, he received messages like “Please take care of yourself” and “Please keep yourself safe.”

For Moreno, these messages of concern only prove that the public understands the danger that a so-called progressive mayor faces each day to serve his constituents.

He then confessed that he has become more cautious in determining his real allies and enemies.

“I will never put myself in that situation na maglalakad ako sa bangin na may kasama ako sa kodli (likod), hindi ko gagawin ‘yun. Alam niyo bakit? Eh ‘yun din ang tutulak sakin sa bangin. This [job] is very dangerous,” he pointed out.

In an earlier press briefing, Moreno said he is now putting his life in God’s hands when it comes to “occupational hazards” that comes with the job.

READ: Isko Moreno on ‘death threats’: Pinagpapasa-Diyos ko na lang  

“Pinagpapasa-Diyos ko nalang ‘yan. Meron naman ako eh… May Jesus. Dala-dalawa pa nga anting-anting ko eh. Kailangan ko talaga ng mga anting-anting,” he said. /kga