Presidential bets Moreno, Lacson, Pacquiao say they’re not backing out

SAN FERNANDO, La Union — Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno on Thursday made clear that he is not backing out of the presidential race, saying he will not give up on the Filipino people.

Moreno made the remark amid rumors that two presidential candidates will back out this week.

“Out mo na ako doon. Dahil hindi tayo susuko, hindi natin susukuan ang taong bayan. Hindi natin susukuan ang sitwasyon. Sanay ako sa wala, galing ako sa wala, walang mawawala sa akin,” Moreno said in an ambush interview.

(Take me out of that. Because we will not give up, we will not give up for the people. We will not give up the situation. I am used to having nothing, I am from nothing, and I will lose nothing.)

Should any candidate back out, Moreno said he is hoping for the best.

“Sana kung saka-sakali, mapusuan nila ako. Katulad ng hinihingi ko sa kababayan nating Pilipino, sana ako mapusuan nila, sana. I’m hoping for the best, kaya nga nag siiskap kami talaga,” he said.

(If ever, I hope they will find me suitable. Like what I’ve asked our fellowmen, I hope they will like me, I hope. I’m hoping for the best, that’s why we are working hard.)

Meanwhile, in a media briefing in San Mateo, Rizal, Senator Manny Pacquiao also said he will keep on fighting, adding that he has never backed out of any fight.

"Pinaparinggan nila kami na magba-back out. Kailan niyo ba nakita si Manny Pacquiao na nag-back out? Sa mga labanan? Nagpapatawa kayo sa akin?" he said.

(They are asking us to back out. When have you ever seen Manny Pacquiao back out of anything? In any fight? Are you making me laugh?)

"Kailan niyo bang narinig ako na umatras sa laban? Umaatras lang ako sa laban kapag mali ako. Pero hangga' tama ako, kahit buhay ko itataya ko para sa bayan," he added.

(When did you ever hear that I will refuse to fight? I only back down when I’m wrong. As long as I’m right, I will even bet my life for the country.)

Similarly, Senator Panfilo Lacson said he made a commitment to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, his running mate.

“We’ll go through the exercise hanggang sa logical conclusion. Manalo, matalo hindi kami mag-iiwanan. We owe it to our supporters kasi hindi naman matatawaran ang pagod na naranasan o dinaranas ng mga supporters namin,” he said.

(We’ll go through the exercise until we reach the logical conclusion. Whether we win or we lose, we will not leave each other. We owe it to our supporters, because we cannot exchange anything for the weariness of our supporters.)

The three presidential aspirants are trailing in some recent polls behind frontrunner Bongbong Marcos, with Vice President Leni Robredo in second place. — BM, GMA News