Heidi Mendoza: Public services to get more funding if mayors fight corruption

Former Commission on Audit Commissioner and senatorial candidate Heidi Mendoza said Friday public services will be given bigger funding if mayors fight corruption.

“Kung ang mayor marunong lumaban sa katiwalian, mas maraming budget para sa eskwelahan, mas maraming budget para sa kalusugan, mas maraming budget para sa senior citizen, mas maraming budget sa infrastructure,” Mendoza said at a campaign rally in Caloocan City, where she endorsed the candidacy of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as mayor.

(If the mayor knew how to fight corruption, there would be more budget for schools, for health, for senior citizens, and for infrastructure.)

Mendoza said that she was inspired by Trillanes’ love for the country.

Senatorial candidate Marc Gamboa, meanwhile, described himself as someone who is ready to fight for the public interest.

“Yung ibang mga tumatakbong senador, parang kulang sa tapang eh. Takot mabash sa social media… Walang ganoon sa mga tumatakbong senador ngayon, kaya buti nalang tumakbo ako para at least mayroong choice yung mga kababayan natin. Yun pong handang tumindig at handing tumayo para po sa lahat,” he said.

(The other senatorial candidates seem to lack bravery. They are scared of getting bashed on social media… There’s no one like that in the senatorial candidates running now, so it’s a good thing I decided to run so the public at least has a choice. Someone who is willing to fight and stand up for everyone.)

If elected in May, Trillanes said that his 12 years of experience as a senator would be helpful in leading Caloocan.

“Nakita po ninyo ang aking pinaglaban, aking pinanindigan, at ganoong klaseng serbisyo po ang dadalhin ko sa ating lungsod… Lahat po ng problema, ito po ay tutugunan natin. Simula doon sa problema sa pabahay dito po sa South Caloocan,” he said.

(You saw what I fought for, how I stayed firm, and that kind of service is what I will bring to our city… We will respond to all these problems, starting with the housing issue in South Caloocan.)

Senator Risa Hontiveros also took part in the proclamation rally and delivered an endorsement speech.

“Sana po, mga kababayan dito sa lungsod ng Caloocan, sa Mayo [ay] buong loob at lakas naitng suportahan ang Bagong Caloocan at iboto si Sonny Trillanes bilang mayor, kasama ang buong Team Trillanes… at buo din nating suportahan sila Kiko Pangilinan at Bam Aquino at ibalik sa Senado, at si Heidi Mendoza, iboto rin natin sa Senado,” Hontiveros said.

(Hopefully our countrymen here in Caloocan City [will] vote and wholeheartedly support Bagong Caloocan in May and vote for Sonny Trillanes as mayor as well as Team Trillanes… and also let us bring back Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino to the Senate, and vote for Heidi Mendoza as well for the Senate.) —VBL, GMA Integrated News

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