Moreno respects supporters’ switching to rivals

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said yesterday he remains thankful to his supporters and volunteers despite deserting him for his rival for the presidency, Vice President Leni Robredo.

Moreno said he respected Maguindanao Rep. Toto Mangudadatu’s last-minute move to switch support to the Vice President.

“I fully support and understand him. That’s how you understand your people. People change their minds,” he said.

Moreno also said yesterday he would join the new format of the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-sponsored presidential debate if he finds time during the last stretch of the campaign.

In a chance interview in Carles, Iloilo, Moreno said he would continue campaigning directly to the people as he suffers an exodus of supporters and volunteers to the camp of Robredo.

“If time is free, why not? If schedule will allow, yes of course I will join,” Moreno said as he prepares to campaign in Isabela, Cebu and Pangasinan.

Moreno said he does not mind the new format of a one-on-one panel interview with the candidates set by the Comelec between May 2 and 6.

The Comelec townhall presidential and vice presidential debates were cancelled after the event organizer failed to pay Sofitel for the venue.

“An applicant for the job should not be choosy on the conduct of the interview by the future employer, which in this case is the people,” Moreno said in Filipino.

In a related development, a former official of a volunteer group for Moreno denied the allegation from the mayor’s camp that he asked for money during the campaign period.

Aksyon Demokratiko president Ernest Ramel shared to the media a clip of Labor Party Philippines senatorial candidate Shariff Albani accusing former IM Pilipinas secretary general Elmer Argaño of trying to make money out of him.

Ramel said it was the senatorial candidate who wanted money for his campaign.

“We flatly deny the allegation of the senatorial wannabe. Actually, he was the one who approached and reached out to us, as a coalition of different volunteer groups, to ask for help in his senatorial bid. He presented himself and asked if we could carry and include him in our senatorial lineup,” said Argaño, now national organizer of IM K Leni.

“He was the one who offered help in printing materials that would have carried and included his name as well; unfortunately, he never fulfilled his pledge... We ended up spending for him where he got a free ride,” he added.