Moreno, left, and Mayor Lacuna.
MANILA, Philippines – Manila mayoral reelectionist Isko Moreno said he remains indebted to the Lacunas but his “utang na loob” (debt of gratitude) to them will never override his duty to the public which, to him, comes first.
This was the declaration of the leading mayoral candidate in his campaign sortie on Thursday (April 24) where he fired back on the camp of incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna for consistently slamming him in her campaigns.
“Ako may utang na loob kay Danny Lacuna. ‘Yan ay di ko ikinaila. Hindi ko ipinagkait o itinanggi… bilang ganti at pagtanaw ng utang na loob kay Boss Danny, inaruga ko ang kanyang mga anak,” Moreno said in a campaign event in District 2 in Tondo.
Moreno credits his entry into politics to the late Manila Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna, who the former actor kept saying as the only one who believed in him at the time everyone looked down on him for his then lack of education.
Lacuna was also the one who encouraged him to go back to school to stop his critics from feasting on his lack of education.
But despite his gratitude to the Lacunas, Moreno was steadfast in reclaiming the mayorship of the city from his mentor’s daughter and will just pay off the family in another way.
“Baka naman pupwede sa ibang bagay na lang ako tumanaw ng utang na loob. Bakit? Eh may utang na loob din naman ako sa taumbayan eh,” Moreno said.
As his first marching order once assuming post, Moreno vowed to kick out Manila City Health Officer Dr. Arnold, Lacuna’s husband, for making it difficult for the elderly to access healthcare after implementing an online registration on health centers which to him, excluded those without smartphones, internet access or digital know-how.
Moreno and his former running mate who he still calls “Ate” (older sister) are now at political odds as top contenders for the city’s mayorship.
Lacuna is said to be leaning closer to the Marcos administration while Moreno is visibly welcoming members of the Duterte-led Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) – Laban slate in his sorties.
During last night’s sortie, Vice President Sara Duterte appeared along with Sen. Imee Marcos and PDP-Laban senatorial bet Jimmy Bondoc.
Moreno is also among the latest candidates issued a show cause order by the Commission on Elections for alleged vote buying which he has not addressed yet.
RELATED STORIES:
Republika News 
Leave a comment