Moreno insists he followed law in declaring P50-M surplus campaign funds, paying taxes

Presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Friday underscored that he followed the law when he declared the "saved" P50 million from the donations during his campaign as a senatorial candidate in 2016.

Moreno disclosed before that he had paid P9.7 million in taxes for it.

Pressed during The KBP Presidential Candidates Forum if he thinks this move was not wrong, Moreno explained he asked the Bureau of Internal Revenue what he should do with the surplus campaign fund and was told he should pay the tax for it.

"Magandang punto 'yun kaya importante na ang isang kandidato o sinumang tao ay tapat sa kanyang bayan, may nakatingin man o wala. In fact, baka unique nga siguro sa paningin ninyo dahil wala pa yatang kandidato na nagpubliko na nagdeklara ng kanyang sobra at nagbayad ng kanyang buwis. Ako, basta ginawa ko 'yun bilang isang masunuring mamamayan ayon sa alituntunin ng batas," he said.

(It is important for a candidate or any person to be honest, whether someone is looking or not. In fact, you may see my situation as unique as there seemed to be no other candidate who made public their surplus campaign fund and paid taxes for it. I did what was right and as a Filipino who follows the law.)

"In fact, nagtanong pa nga ako noon sa BIR eh anong dapat gawin ko sa pera na 'yun, ang sabi magbayad ng buwis, nagbayad tayo ng buwis and that's the most important thing. Kung ang tao ihikayat natin na magbayad ng buwis, dapat tayo ring malalaki, maliliit, middleclass, lahat pantay-pantay... 'yan ang importante 'yung pagbabayad ng buwis," he added.

(In fact, I even asked the BIR what should I do with the money and they told me to pay taxes so I did, that's the most important thing. The rich, poor, middle class, we are equal, we should all pay taxes.)

Moreno said there should be more concrete guidelines regarding the use of excess campaign funds.

"In the future dapat magtatag tayo ng mga alituntunin na magiging gabay ng lahat ng mga kandidato, at the time ang naisip ko gampanan ang tungkulin ko bilang mamamayan na nagbabayad ng buwis," the Manila mayor said.

(In the future, we should establish rules that will guide the candidates regarding surplus campaign funds. At that time, what I thought best was to be a good citizen and pay my taxes.)

Moreno was also asked about his stand on foreign direct investments, he explained that foreign investors could generate job and investments for Filipinos.

He emphasized the importance of generating employment to help Filipinos recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Unang-una, kapag sila ay pumasok dito may mga bagay na pwede tayong kopyahin na kapag nag-invest ang foreigner dito, bibigyan natin sila ng partikular na prescribed time to sustain their investments," Moreno said.

(When they invest in the Philippines, we can copy their best practices, we can given them prescribed time to sustain their investments.)

"Pag nag-invest ang mga banyaga dito sa ating bansa, may ibigay tayong trabaho kasi ang importante ngayon pandemya, post-pandemic, kailangan ng tao ng trabaho, kailangan ng tao ng hanap-buhay..." he added.

(With the foreign investors in the country, there will be jobs for our people because what is important now is for our people to have an income, a livelihood.)

When it comes to being responsive to natural calamities, Moreno said strengthening communication infrastructure is important to allow the government to contact and communicate with the victims of calamities.

He is also planning to build more infrastructures for the shelter of affected families.

Political opportunism

Moreno also insisted that his loyalty is to the Filipino people when asked why he switched political parties before he became the standard bearer of Aksyon Demokratiko.

He said one should not stay in a political party whose members are into illicit activities.

"What matter most at the end of the day, 'yung loyalty mo nasa tao..." he said.

"No matter what, kahit kapartido mo pa 'yan, kapag talipandas 'yan, pag 'yan ay walanghiya o nang-aabuso, o wala na sa direksyon... eh bakit ka naman magiging tapat doon, bakit ka mananatili doon?"

(If your partymate is corrupt, has no manners, abusive, or has no direction why would you stay there?)—AOL, GMA News