MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Francisco 鈥淚sko Moreno鈥� Domagoso on Monday said he will vote for President Duterte in the 2022 Senate race and would even go as far as endorsing him.
Moreno told reporters in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu that he will vote for four senatorial aspirants 鈥� the three in his Aksyon Demokratiko slate 鈥撎� Samira Gutoc, Carl Balita, and Jopet Sison, as well as President Duterte.
听鈥淚鈥檓 going to vote for him personally, I鈥檓 going to endorse him kung papayag siya, I鈥檒l be honored.听 I鈥檒l be humbled and honored na umoo si Pangulong Duterte.听 Nakuha ko nga siyang iboto, hindi ko pa ba makuhang siya鈥檡 i-adopt (I will vote for him, why can鈥檛 I adopt him, too?),鈥� Domagoso said.
鈥淚t is definitely an honor for me if the President will accept my invitation for him to be an adopted senatorial candidate of Aksyon Demokratiko,鈥� Domagoso said.
听鈥淲ell syempre, gusto kong madagdagan kami, bakit hindi but for now I鈥檓 happy with the three senators today na under Aksyon Demokratiko.听 But then again as I have promised you, everyone, that I am willing to work with anybody.听 With that, basta ako naman meron na akong tatlong kandidatong senador, pero hindi ibig sabihin tatlo lang ang iboboto ko,鈥� he added.
(Of course we want to have more candidates in our Senate slate, but I鈥檓 happy with the three we have right now under Aksyon Demokratiko. But it does not mean I will only vote for the three candidates.)
President Rodrigo Duterte
听When asked why he was voting for Duterte, Domagoso said that the public cannot discount what the President has done for the country, adding that he is very qualified for the Senate.
听鈥淏akit hindi?听 I think, well hindi natin pwedeng tawaran 鈥榶ong kanyang kakayanan, he is a qualified candidate for the Senate, in fairness to him.听 Basta ito personal choice ko ha.听 In fairness to him, kami, for example, sa mga nagawa niya para sa Maynila, 鈥榶ang Clark Airport,鈥� Domagoso said.
(Why not? We cannot question his capabilities.听 This is my personal choice. I cite what he did for the City of Manila, plus the Clark Airport project.)
听鈥淢akikinabang dyan mga tiga Maynila din, kasi gumawa 鈥榶an ng Clark-Malolos-Tutuban train, nakita ko 鈥榶on when we were in Malolos, nakita ninyo 鈥榶ong train, tagos 鈥榶on hanggang airport.听 So that鈥檚 for us.听 鈥榊ong Skyway.听 Kumbaga sa dami ng ginawa ni Pangulong Duterte, siguro naman sa labing dalawang senador, hindi naman kalabisan na iboto natin siya bilang senador?鈥� he added.
(The people of Manila will benefit from the projects he initiated, the Clark-Malolos-Tutuban railway, the Skyway.)
Domagoso also praised President Duterte for initiating the three-day National Vaccination Drive.
鈥淟et鈥檚 give credit where credit is due. President Duterte has so many accomplishments. And I believe that he can be an effective senator since through legislation, he can ensure that his legacy will institutionalized,鈥� said the Manila mayor.
Domagoso was in Lapu Lapu City as guest of honor during the flag raising ceremony in front of the City Hall.
He was warmly welcomed by city officials and employees led by Mayor Junard 鈥淎hong鈥� Chan, Vice Mayor Selci Sitoy and members of the City Council.