Isko Moreno brushes off Manuel Lopez's mayoral run; to focus on pandemic efforts

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Monday said he will focus on the city's COVID-19 pandemic efforts rather than politics after PDP-Laban announced that it will field Manila 1st District Representative Manuel Luis Lopez as its official mayoral candidate in 2022.

"Kami nakafocus sa pandemya, pabahay, ospital. 'Yun ang reason namin, 'di ko alam ang reason nila. 'Yung ganung endo-endorsement politiko lang makikinabang doon, eto tao makikinabang (We are focused on the pandemic, housing, hospitals. That's our reason, I don't know theirs. Only politicians will benefit from endorsements)," Moreno told reporters.

"Hindi tayo malilito sa usok sa ating mga mata na makikinabang lang ang politiko (We will not be fooled by smokescreen politics),"  he added.

He also wished Lopez good luck for the mayoral run.

PDP-Laban secretary general Melvin Matibag previously said President Rodrigo Duterte himself endorsed the candidacy of Lopez.

Moreno, meanwhile, said he has yet to declare his Eleksyon 2022 plans when asked if he will run for the presidential post.

“Decisions will be made  and I think there is still ample time to decide. But for now, hayaan muna natin silang mga atat (let us allow those who can't wait to go first),” he said, adding that he is praying for whatever decision he will make.—AOL, GMA News