Isko firm on call for Leni to drop prexy bid, won't apologize

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Despite the backlash it generated, Manila Mayor and presidential candidate Isko Moreno on Tuesday reiterated his call for Vice President Leni Robredo to withdraw from the 2022 presidential race.

Moreno made the call anew when interviewed here and asked about former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales' remark that he -- Moreno -- may have been carried away when he called for Robredo's withdrawal during their Easter Sunday joint press conference.

"Ako na ang nagsasabi at pinaninidigan ko lahat ng sinasabi ko, ngayon uulitin ko. Vice President Leni, be a hero, withdraw. Give chance to the other candidates," he said.

"'Yun 'yung akin, so I stand on it, I believe it, and it's high time na matikman din nila 'yung lasa ng sarili nilang gamot. So for now, pinaninindigan ko 'yun," Moreno added.

Moreno and Gonzales, along with Senator Panfilo Lacson, held a joint press conference on Easter Sunday to stress that they are not withdrawing their respective presidential bids despite lagging in various surveys.

'Don't be a bully'

Moreno, during the interview, accused Robredo of being a bully, citing incidents where pro-Robredo businessmen allegedly threatened to fire employees who are not supportive of her.

"'Yung may mga may ari ng malalaking kumpanya, tinatakot 'yung empleyado, kailangan mag-Leni kayo, kung hindi tatanggalin kayo sa trabaho. Hindi ba pambu-bully yun?” he said.

Sought for comment, Robredo's spokesman Barry Gutierrez reiterated that Robredo is too focused on her campaign to be affected by her emotions and criticisms against her.

"Malinaw ang direksyon ni VP Leni sa ating People's Campaign, huwag magpatalo sa emosyon, focus lang sa kampanya," he said in a message to GMA News Online.

"Kung may mga kandidatong naghahanap ng papatol sa kanila, tumingin na lang sila sa iba," he added.

Tiger and cat

Meanwhile, asked about the fact that Robredo did not personally call on her opponents to drop their candidacies, Moreno said this was the difference between a tiger and a cat.

"Diyan pinaghihiwalay ang leon at pusa o kuting. Ako hindi kita kailangan gamitin o gamitin ang mga kasamahan ko para sila ang magsalita withdraw Leni. Ako paninindigan ko ang paniwala ko at sasabihin ko ang paniwala ko," he said.

Moreno added that he does not need to order anybody to speak on his behalf.

"Kapag may nararamdaman akong mali at kailangan kong sabihin ‘yung tama, ako mismo 'yung magsasabi," he said, stressing that there is nothing wrong with sharing his opinion.

Unlike Gonzales, Moreno said he is not inclined to apologize for his statements against Robredo.

"Hindi ako humihingi ng pasensya sa isang bagay na ginawa ko na makatwiran," he said. —with Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News