Isko vows to go after every family that abused the Philippines if elected president

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno on Friday said he would go after every family that has taken advantage of the Filipino people if ever he wins in the 2022 elections.

"Let us not go after one family. Kala ko ba gusto niyo ng pagkakapantay-pantay?" Moreno said in an interview here following a town hall meeting.

(Let us not go after one family. I thought you wanted equality?)

It was Moreno's answer when asked if he would go after the remaining family members of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. if elected president.

"So kung gusto niyo ng pagkakapantay-pantay, anybody, that includes those family na nang-abuso, nang-walanghiya, nanggahasa na napatunayan, habulin natin. Hindi puwedeng hindi,” he added.

(So if you want equality, anybody included in those families that committed abuse and plunder, let’s go after them. We can't let them go.)

Moreno said the experience of the 80-year-old man who was arrested for stealing mangoes should be felt by those who shamed the country.

"I made a committment to you. Sa panahon ko, may awa ng Diyos, sa tulong ng tao, bigyan ako ng pagkakataon, walang mahirap, walang middle class, walang mayaman," he said.

(I made a commitment to you. If I win, with the grace of God, with the help of the people, there will be no poor people, there will be no middle class, there will be no rich.)

Marcos' son, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., is among Moreno's rivals to the presidency.

Debate with BBM

Moreno said he is open to having a one-on-one debate with the younger Marcos.

"Bakit naman hindi? Okay naman ako. Unang-una hindi ko naman kaaway si Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Kakompetensya ko siya," he said.

(Why not? It’s okay for me. First of all, Ferdinand Marcos is not my enemy, he is my competitor.)

"Yun ang importante para sa akin. So in a competiton, di ba, syempre gusto mo yung iikaw manalo. Hindi mo naman wini-wish na matalo yung kalaban mo, pero gusto mo manalo, definitely,” he added.

(That’s what’s important for me. So in a competition, of course, you want to win. You are not wishing your opponent to lose, but you want to win.)

Marcos earlier said he is committing to presidential forums and debates only if his schedule permits.

Marcos' spokesman, Attorney Vic Rodriguez, earlier said they are checking first the format of the forum as they are not inclined to join if it would just pit candidates against each other.

GMA News Online has sought the comment of Marcos' camp but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time. —KBK, GMA News