VP Sara endorses Isko Moreno

MANILA, Philippines — After changing her mind about endorsing candidates, Vice President Sara Duterte attended on Thursday a campaign sortie of former Manila mayor Francisco Domagoso or Isko Moreno, who is seeking a return to city hall in the midterm elections.

Duterte, speaking before residents of Tondo in Manila, did not officially endorse   Moreno, but called him “our beloved mayor of the city of Manila.”

She thanked Domagoso for allowing her team to campaign for senatorial candidates including Sen. Imee Marcos and musician and former government official Jimmy Bondoc.

“I thank our beloved mayor of Manila, Isko Moreno Domagoso, for lending the stage and the microphone to the Duterte senatorial candidates,” the Vice President said in Filipino during the proclamation rally for District 2 candidates of Yorme’s Choice party.

Before becoming mayor of Manila from 2019 to 2022, Moreno had joined the Duterte administration as chairman and chief executive officer of the North Luzon Railways Corp. from July to October 2017 and as undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development from May to October 2018.

Moreno is running against reelectionist Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, Tutok to Win party-list Rep. Sam Verzosa and eight other candidates.

Sara hits House members

Duterte took a swipe at members of the House of Representatives from Manila who became key figures in the efforts to have her impeached.

Asking the audience who they elected as congressman, she said, “Sa sobrang laki ng leeg niya naiipit na boses niya (His neck is so big that it has constricted his voice).”

Manila’s District 2 congressman is Rolando Valeriano.

Duterte also accused Manila District 3 Rep. Joel Chua, one of the leaders in the House hearing that sought an explanation on the use of her confidential funds, of being ignorant about the authority to appoint officials in government.

“Where can you find a lawyer who does not know who appoints the DepEd undersecretary? Well, here in Manila, you can find Joel Chua,” she said, referring to the Department of Education, which she previously headed.

Duterte appealed to the people to be smart in choosing their leaders in the upcoming polls and to demand the fulfillment of campaign promises.

“The P20-per-kilo rice, after three years of remaining as a campaign promise, will now be given, but it will only be in the Visayas. It’s as if you, here in Manila, do not go hungry. It’s as if your money is always enough to buy food,” Duterte said, referring to the pilot rollout in the Visayas of rice at P20 a kilo, which will require a subsidy of up to P4.5 billion.

She assailed the program, saying it was a plan to help senatorial candidates of the Marcos administration win.

Duterte drew laughter as she jokingly removed the seal of the Office of the Vice President from the podium, saying it could be replaced with the seal of the Office of the President.

She also said Sen. Imee Marcos should change her surname, but that would leave the senator with her middle name, Romualdez, which is anathema to Duterte.