‘Yorme Isko’ third to bid for presidency

MANILA mayor, Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso, has formally announced his decision to seek the Philippine presidency in next year’s national elections, the third politician to do so, after Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson and Sen. Emmanuel ‘Manny/Pacman’ Pacquiao.

At a political rally in the urban poor community of Baseco in Tondo, Manila, last September 22, 2021, ‘Mayor Kois’ also picked losing Lakas-CMD senatorial candidate, Dr. Willie Ong, as his running mate. Ong run for the Senate during the 2019 midterm polls but landed in the 17th place, based on the official result released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The choice of the venue is to emphasize that Moreno, like Pacquiao, is a product of the country’s lowest social class but who became successful thru personal hard work.

It can be recalled that last August 4, 2021, Lacson announced his third attempt at the presidency, choosing Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III, as his running mate.

Lacson ran and lost to Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during the 2004 presidential race.

He first contemplated running for president in the 2016 elections but reconsidered and ran instead as a senator due to poor survey ratings.

On the other hand, Sen. Pacquiao announced his bid for the country’s highest political office during the convention of a faction of the PDP-Laban last September 19, 2021, three days before Moreno’s declaration. His running mate is yet to be announced.

After Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Moreno is the second presidential candidate to announce support for the ICC’s probe—and possible incarceration to a foreign country of Pres. Duterte.

In his younger years, Moreno was a struggling movie actor but was elected for three terms as Manila councilor for the first district starting in 1998.

He also served as vice mayor, first to the late Manila mayor, Alfredo Lim in 2007 and finally, to former Pres. Joseph Estrada, in 2013.

Moreno then run as a senator in the 2016 elections but lost. In 2019, he bested Estrada in the mayoralty race to become the city’s 22nd mayor.

Speaking in the vernacular, Moreno vowed to be a “healing president” by establishing a government of “reconstruction” and “reconciliation based on justice and the rule of law.”

Significantly, his speech was laden with subtle references—and criticisms— of past Philippine presidents and even Pres. Duterte, who, prior to the proclamation, is already being criticized publicly by ‘Yorme.’

Moreno’s reference to ‘national reconciliation’ dates back to the speeches of former Pres. Corazon Aquino who also promised “a government of national reconciliation” in the aftermath of the tumultuous events following the illegal removal of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

On the other hand, Moreno’s promise not to blame his predecessor, should he become president, is a clear rebuke to the Aquinos who liked to blame Pres. Marcos and Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (who was succeeded by Pres. Noynoy Aquino), for the country’s problems.

“Hindi ko isisisi sa nakaraan ang problemang ating kakaharapin; We can only move forward in our road to recovery if we are not consumed and immobilized by the rearview mirror politics,” Moreno declared.

Although the statement also followed the policy of Pres. Duterte not to hound his predecessor (Noynoy Aquino) with cases and to minimize his criticism of the past regime in order to unify the country, Moreno also took a dig at Pres. Duterte who has been known to curse in public.

“Opo,lumaki akong busabos ngunit hindi ako naging bastos.

“Bagama’t balot ako ng dumi sa katawan, ni minsan hindi ko kailangan sabunin ang aking bibig…

“…Ni minsan hindi ako nagtampo sa Diyos, hindi ko siya minura, hindi ko siya tinalikuran, at ang kanyang mga alagad, hindi ko inalipusta,” Moreno declared, in clear criticism of Pres. Duterte, who had admitted to cursing the Pope.

To boost his chances, Moreno also moved to the ‘Aksyon Demokratiko’ party established by the late senator, Raul Rocco, and was immediately elected as party president last August 12, 2021. Prior to this, Moreno is a member of the National Unity Party (NUP).

During the media interview after the proclamation proper, Moreno said he would also not stand in the way of the ‘International Criminal Court’ (ICC) investigating, and possibly hauling, Pres. Duterte, to a foreign court, over the much hyped-up “killings” that attended the Duterte administration’s “War on Drugs” in the last 5 years.

The ICC, thru the machinations of communist front organizations and their allies in the local opposition, announced last September 15, 2021, that it has approved the investigation of Pres. Duterte and other Philippine officials for their alleged “crimes against humanity.”

When asked what he would do should the ICC issue an arrest warrant for Pres. Duterte, Moreno said he is not going “to lift a finger” on the matter, stressing that an investigation does not mean that the person being investigated is already ‘guilty.’

“I will not lift a finger for any John Does and Mary who happen to be accused of such neglect or crimes or whatever it is, no.”

Moreno added he welcomes the Philippines rejoining the ICC after its membership withdrawal took effect last March 2019.

Moreno said he would also agree to turning over to the ICC documents related to the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.

After Pacquiao, Moreno is the second presidential candidate to announce support for the ICC’s probe—and possible incarceration to a foreign country of Pres. Duterte.

Both candidates are clearly not bothered by the ICC’s gross interference in the country’s domestic affairs and infringement of our national sovereignty.

This is aside from ignoring the fact that the country’s criminal justice system is functioning, the reason why Malacañang is vehemently opposed to any foreign investigation of the government’s conduct of its war on drugs.