‘Peace be with you’: Isko tells Lacuna Manileños will decide if they want him

Former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno appears in a rally at Guingona Park in Butuan City, which  draws a crowd of about 10,000, according to local police. (File photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso will let residents of the city respond to the latest statements from incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna.

His position comes amid an impending mayoral battle between the two former allies.

In an ambush interview on Thursday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) National Capital Region (NCR) office in San Juan, Domagoso was asked about Lacuna’s statements on betrayal and that a no return for him would happen in Manila’s political arena.

Domagoso initially refused to answer the question as he was just accompanying Manila 1st District Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr., who filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for reelection.

But he eventually gave Lacuna a friendly greeting.

“Peace be with you,” Domagoso said. “Hayaan ko na lang ang taumbayan sa Maynila ang sumagot.”

(Let us just allow the people of Manila to respond.)

When asked further about his relations with Lacuna — who was his running mate when he first ran for Manila mayor in 2019 — Domagoso said they are alright.

“Oh yes. Okay naman. Alam mo, siyempre naman, basta ako, sa grupo namin, ipiprisinta lang namin ang mga nagawa natin at pwede pang gawin, particularly sa Tondo,” he noted.

(Oh yes. It’s okay. You know, of course, as for me, in our group, we will just present what we have done and what we will do and what we can do for the city, particularly Tondo.)

Earlier, Lacuna was asked about Domagoso’s possible mayoral bid in the 2025 midterm elections.

According to the local chief executive, what the Asenso Manileño party understood was that Domagoso would not return to any elective position in Manila.

“Wala naman po akong reaction. Syempre, iniisip ko muna, ano mga kadahilanan kung bakit siya babalik dahil bago siya umalis ng Maynila ay napaka-klaro po sa amin sa partido Asenso Manileño na hindi na siya tatakbo ulit at lagi niya yang sinasabi,” Lacuna claimed.

(I have no reaction. Of course, I am thinking of why he is seeking a return because before he left Manila, it was clear to us in Asenso Manileño that he would not run again and he repeatedly said that.)

Domagoso served as Manila mayor for one term, winning in the 2019 polls with Lacuna.

When Domagoso ran for president in 2022, Lacuna took over, winning as Manila’s first woman mayor.

However, the pair appears to be headed for a showdown in 2025, with Lacuna previously expressing intentions to seek reelection.

On July 17, Lacuna said she is giving Domagoso time to reconsider his possible mayoral bid in the 2025 polls — saying that while she understands “the reality of politics,” her “commitment” and “sibling love” for the former mayor remain.

READ: Manila’s Lacuna: I’m giving Isko Moreno time to reconsider mayoral bid 

Over social media, there have been calls for Domagoso to run for mayor again, with the former mayor sharing a video where residents were seen chanting, “Bumalik ka na” (Return).

He captioned this by saying, “Laging may awa ang Diyos (God is always merciful) #TimeWillTell.”