Isko open to unification, says Drilon welcome in his team

Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno on Monday welcomed the idea of uniting with other candidates, saying this will boost his campaign.

In an ambush interview in Sorsogon, Moreno was asked about Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon's statement urging non-administration presidential candidates to unite under one standard-bearer.

"Thank you for calling the unity. Welcome po kayo Senator Drilon sa aming team... Of course, we would welcome them to unite para mapalakas natin 'yung ating kampanya at maparami pa natin 'yung pagsuyo sa ating mga kababayan," he said.

(Thank you for calling the unity. You are welcome to our team Senator Drilon... Of course, we would welcome them to unite so we can intensify our campaign.)

Drilon, a member of the  Liberal Party, earlier pushed for unification "if indeed it is confirmed that the numbers of Vice President Leni [have] substantial increase."

“If indeed it is confirmed that the numbers of Vice President Leni [have] substantial increase as indicated in the attendance of the rallies, then maybe it is about time that the three other presidential candidates should start thinking or think of unifying and having only one candidate to fight the administration candidate, so we could really have a clear mandate,” Drilon said in an ANC interview.

“And as I said this is now probably, with all due respect, the other candidates should now start examining where they are if they have not even gotten to double figures. ‘Yun po sa mga mas mababa sa 10 percent. There’s no sense,” he added.

Promise of votes

Meanwhile, Moreno said the promise of votes given by endorsers is an insult to the public.

"Ito ah, modesty aside. I don't ask any local leaders, any endorsers of the promise of votes. You know why? It's a great insult to the voters with all honesty," Moreno said.

Though he said he wants a good sum of votes, Moreno said they should not promise candidates that they will give them millions of votes.

"Pinangungunahan mo na ang taong bayan non. Sinasaklawan mo na 'yung kanyang karapatan makapamili ng lider ayon sa pagkakaunawa niya. So I don't ask them that," he said.

(You are deciding for the people. You are stepping on their right to choose a leader based on their own understanding. So I don't ask them that.)—LDF, GMA News