Isko dispels ‘trapo’ image, assures loyalty to Filipinos despite party-hopping

Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno denied that he is a “trapo” or traditional politician, and assured the public that his loyalty remains with the Filipinos despite changing political parties.

During the Jessica Soho The Presidential Interviews aired Saturday, Moreno was asked about his loyalty after changing political sides between former Manila Mayors Alfredo Lim and Joseph Estrada.

He explained that he will partner with only the “good” people that will give good advocacy and programs for the people.

“Basta ako, ang loyalty ko sa tao, ang kapakinabangan ng tao ang mahalaga sa akin hindi kapakinabangan ng pulitiko, kung naging mabuti ka ngayon at tinupad mo ang sinabi mo, sasamahan kita,” Moreno said.

(My loyalty is for the people, the benefit of the people is important to me not the benefit of the politician, if you have been good today and kept what you said, I will be with you.)

“Pero kung hindi ka totoo sa sarili mo at hindi ka totoo sa tao, hindi ako para maging tapat sayo dahil ang katapatan ko ay sa taumbayan,” he added.

(But if you are not true to yourself and you are not true to people, I will not be honest with you because my loyalty is for the people.)

Despite changing political parties, Moreno assured the public that he will partner with good candidates regardless of different political parties.

“At the end of the day, basta kung sino mabuting kandidato, kahit ano pang partido niya, at siya ay mabuting tao, sasamahan namin siya, basta ikabubuti ng tao,” he said.

He recently left the National Unity Party and joined Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto's party Aksyon Demokratiko.

Moreno was previously with the Nacionalista Party, United Nationalist Alliance, and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

He now sits as Aksyon Demokratiko president ahead of the 2022 national and local elections.

Mulls to continue Duterte’s programs

Meanwhile, Moreno lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements and eyed to continue his programs. He, however, noted that those wrongdoings must be corrected and changed.

“Maraming bagay na ginawa si Pangulong Duterte na puwedeng kopyahin at ipagpatuloy, at yung mga ginawa naman ng mga gabinete niya, na hindi naman maganda na dapat lang punahin, o pagka palpak palpak, pagka tama, suportahan,” he said.

(There are many things that President Duterte has done that we can copy and continue, while the wrongdoings of his cabinet members must be criticized, but when it is right, we must support.)

“So pag may konting mali, dapat panawagan, itama, and in our own little way, ginagawa naman namin kung ano ang makabubuti sa tao,” he added.

(If there is wrongdoing, we must challenge and correct it in our own little way, we do what is good for the people.)

Fake leaders

Moreno underscored that he will not allow “fake” leaders if he gets elected as president in the May 2022 polls.

He also clarified that he did not call Vice President Leni Robredo a fake leader.

“Hindi, pagka fake na tao hindi naman siya ang tinatawag ko e, basta fake ang pagkatao fake na tao, kahit na anong gawin mo pa fake ka pa rin, magpalit palit ka pa ng kulay, fake ka pa rin, kasi nakikita yan, nararamdaman yan ng tao,” he said.

(No, if they are a fake person, I don't call her that, as long as the personality is a fake, no matter what you do, you're still fake, change of political color, you're still fake, because you can see that, you can feel it.)

“Hindi mo hahayaan na may mag fake diploma, fake person, fake claims, kasi sila rin naman ang magpapakalat ng mga fake news, so yun ang laban natin na para maliwanagan ang tao, mabura sa kanila yung smoke screen, importante minsan kasi yung realtalk,” he added.

(I won't let anyone make fake diplomas, fake persons, fake claims, because they will also spread fake news, so that's our fight to enlighten people, erase the smoke screen from them, and we need to realtalk them.)

Moreno and Robredo -- both aspirants for the presidency in Eleksyon 2022 – earlier exchanged words on issues involving the Marcoses and the martial law regime.

They were reportedly in talks during last year 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. — RSJ, GMA News