Leni, Isko trade barbs over Marcos issues

Vice President Leni Robredo and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno -- both aspirants for the presidency in Eleksyon 2022 -- exchanged words on Friday over issues involving the Marcoses and the martial law regime.

They were reportedly in talks during the previous months for a possible unity ticket that the opposition will field in next year's elections.

However, Robredo admitted that one of the factors that affected her decision not to pursue the plan was Moreno’s reported remark that he admired the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos for being a visionary, even as he was opposed to his wrongdoings, according to Sandra Aguinaldo's report on "24 Oras."

“I don't want to go into details sa akin kasi may mga non-negotiable and yung mga Marcoses non-negotiable yun sa akin,” Robredo said.

This sparked a rebuke from Moreno, who said, "“Bakit kelangan uminog ang mundo namin ngayon sa away ng Marcos at Aquino, sa away ng anak ni Marcos at mga anak at kasama ng yellow tards… pink na pala."

"I don't want to live in their past we deserve to live and change the future for the better,” he said during an event of his party Aksyon Demokratiko on Friday.

The Manila mayor fired shots seeming aimed at Robredo's decision to run as independent.

“You cannot talk of unity, you yourself, hindi mo nga ma-unify ang sarili mo. You're not even proud of your party. Kung kaya mong iwanan ang mga kasama mo, paano pa kaya kaming mga 110 million Filipinos?” he added.

Moreno also expressed dismay after the #WithdrawIsko trended on social media following Robredo's announcement of her presidential bid.

“Karapatan ko rin naman tumakbo di ba? Akala ko ba, nagra-rally sila ng demokrasya. Bakit, yung demokrasya ba, sila ang may-ari?,” Moreno said.

Moreno filed his certificate of candidacy on Monday, while Robredo filed hers on Thursday.

The late dictator's son, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is also running for president.—LDF, GMA News