Isko targeting Leni's votes? Campaign manager says Bongbong is 'common enemy'; 'Way off mark,' retorts BBM camp

As far as the camp of Manila Mayor and presidential candidate Isko Moreno is concerned, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is the "common enemy" in the 2022 presidential race.

Lito Banayo, Moreno's campaign manager, said this when asked during a television interview on Thursday if they are targeting the voters of Vice President Leni Robredo, who is also seeking the presidency.

“No, she will get 14 to 15% and that is her cap. So we are not targeting the voters of Vice President Leni Robredo,” Banayo told ANC.

“We have a common enemy, whether it is Vice President Leni or us, and the common enemy is the frontrunner right now which is Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” he added, referring to Marcos' place in several pre-election surveys.

Further questioned if Robredo may surprise everyone in the polls due to the silent majority, Banayo said he believes these voters will gravitate towards Moreno instead of the vice president.

“Precisely because the message of Vice President Leni has been centered on targeting her political enemies,” Banayo said.

He also reiterated Moreno’s message that the Filipino people had spent 39 years under Marcos' father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and the Liberal Party, which is chaired by Robredo.

“‘Yun nga ‘yung laging sinasabi ni Isko, 39 na taon na nating binigyan ng pagkakataon si Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at ‘yung mga kasamahan ni Vice President Leni,” Banayo said.

Banayo 'way off the mark'

In response, Marcos' spokesperson Vic Rodriguez said Banayo is "way off the mark," noting that the "common and biggest enemy is unemployment."

"Had he not been hateful, he could not have missed the site of the real enemies, which are unemployment at 6.5% and underemployment at 16.7% based on PSA November 2021 statistics," Rodriguez said in a statement.

At a proclamation rally in Bulacan on February 8, Marcos said he is running for president because he wants to unite Filipinos.

In his speech, Marcos said he believes unity is the tool for the country to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse effects to the economy.

Rodriguez, in his statement, reiterated Marcos' call for unity.

"In these difficult times, all the more that we should heed the call of presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos for national unity as it is vital to strengthen the spirit of tripartism among government, private and labor sector and achieve the common goal for all, job preservation and job creation," he said. 

Banayo, meanwhile, wondered why Rodriguez took offense to his remarks. 

“I was referring to an electoral contest. We are protagonists in these elections. Why should Mr. Rodriguez take offense? Is it because he looks at his principal as royalty that commoners like us are committing lese majeste when we criticize?” he said in a message to reporters. 

“Your principal has not mouthed anything but motherhood statements and now you quote unemployment figures?” he added.

He also said that the election is "not a friendly contest."

“Labanan ito, hindi friendly contest. Pagkatapos ng laban, e di magkasundo. Pero ngayon, laban ito,” he added.

(This is a fight, not a friendly contest. After the fight, let’s get along. But for now, this is a battle.) —KBK/VBL, GMA News