Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Wednesday issued a new a challenge against Vice President Leni Robredo — this time asking her to deny that her camp has been asking other candidates to withdraw from the presidential race.
"Challenge ko sa kanila: Deny. Please deny. I challenge the honorable Vice President Leni Robredo, deny," he told reporters.
(My challenge to them: Deny. Please deny. I challenge the honorable Vice President Leni Robredo, deny.)
"Deny niyo na hindi niyo kami pinaaatras, na hindi niyo pinaaatras sina Norberto Gonzales, hindi niyo pinaaatras si Senator Ping (Lacson)," he added.
(Deny that you are asking us to withdraw, that you are asking Norberto Gonzales and Senator Ping to withdraw.)
He issued a similar challenge to former Senator Bam Aquino, Robredo’s campaign manager, to deny his allegations.
"And I challenge Bam Aquino. Sige, tignan natin. I challenge Bam Aquino to deny it," he said.
(And I challenge Bam Aquino. Let’s see. I challenge Bam Aquino to deny it.)
His remarks came after his Easter Sunday press conference where he also challenged Robredo to withdraw from the elections.
It follows accusations from Moreno, Lacson, and Gonzales that the vice president has been urging them to withdraw from the race.
Robredo's spokesperson Barry Gutierrez, however, denied such allegations and said they "wish every candidate who decides to push through to the end, only the best."
Moreno also addressed Gutierrez in his remarks and said: "Barry tabi ka na sa gedli (gilid). Pagsalitain mo amo mo."
(Step aside, Barry. Let your boss talk.)
According to the Manila Mayor, Robredo should not be the only one allowed to run and become president.
"Ang tanong ko bakit kayo lang ba ang may karapatang tumakbo? Kayo lang ba ang may karapatang maging kandidato sa pagkapangulo? Kayo lang ba ang magaling?" he said.
(My question is: why are they the only ones with the right to run? Are you the only candidate with the right to run for president? Are you the only great ones?)
"Kasi puro BBS - bilib na bilib sa sarili. Hindi ako papayag na mabulagas ninyo ang tao na kayo ay santa, pero kayo ay santita."
(You are all full of yourselves. I will not allow you to fool people into thinking that you are a saint, when you are a santita.)
He also denied that his attacks against Robredo were gender-based, as criticized by users online.
"Kapag kami nangangatwiran bastos na. Inaapi namin ang babae, kailan naging issue ang babae? It is an issue of character, character of a person na gustong maging leader ng bansa."
(When we reason out, it’s rude, we oppress women. When has being a woman an issue? It is an issue of character, the character of a person who wants to be a leader of the country.)
Robredo's camp response
In response to Moreno's tirades, Gutierrez simply said on Twitter: "K."
The camp of Robredo has been calling on its supporters to focus on the campaign instead of lashing out and further alienating supporters of other candidates.
Robredo herself encouraged this in her response to the Easter Sunday press conference, where she stressed that there is less than a month to campaign for the upcoming 2022 elections.
"Kailangan wag tayong magpatalo sa emosyon. Huwag nang magbitaw ng masasakit na salita. Focus lang muna tayo sa kampanya - tao sa tao, puso sa puso. May bayan tayong kailangan ipaglaban," she said.
(We should not be defeated by our emotions. Do not issue harsh words. Let us focus on the campaign — person to person, heart to heart. We have a country that we need to defend.)
