Pacquiao rejects 'two joints' sign; Isko says he's not promoting bad things

Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Thursday discouraged children and youth from doing the "two joints" sign, insisting it is a gesture for illegal drugs.

Pacquiao said he does not know why the sign became popular. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, another presidential candidate, was seen making the hand sign as a response to supporters.

"Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling ‘yang sign na ‘yan. Kaya nga ang sabi ko sa mga tao mag-ingat kayo sa mga anak ninyo, mag-ingat kayo sa social media, maraming fake news, may mga nasasabi na hindi tama. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing ‘yan eh pero ang sa akin lang, dumaan din ako na tambay-tambay at nakita ko yang sign-sign nila na ‘yan ay hindi maganda ‘yan," Pacquiao said in a media briefing during his campaign in Cauayan, Isabela.

(I do not know where that sign came from. That's why I tell people to take care of their children, be careful with social media, there are a lot of fake news, there are things said that are incorrect. I do not know where the sign came from but for me that is not good.)

"Kailangang sawayin kasi pang-addict ‘yan eh. Kaya nga ako nagwa-warning sa mga magulang na mag-ingat sa mga nakikita ng mga anak sa social media," Pacquiao added.

(Children should be warned because it is a sign of addicts. That's why I'm warning parents to take caution with their children and what they see on social media.)

Pacquiao said he was unaware that Moreno is doing the "two joints" gesture.

"Ang ginagamit ni Isko ganu'n eh (1 sign). Tingin ko hindi naman ‘yan kay Isko. Basta masama 'yan, maniwala kayo sa akin, dumaan ako ng tambay, sinasabi ko masama 'yan. Huwag nating imulat sa mga bata... mga bata, kalimutan ninyo 'yung ganiyang sign. Kapag nakita ng mga foreigners, ng ibang bansa, 'Mga adik ba itong mga batang ito?’" he said.

(Isko is using the [one sign]. I don't think Isko is using the 'two joints' sign. Nonetheless it is bad, believe me, I used to frequent the streets before, I am saying that it’s bad. Let's not allow the children to use that sign ... children, forget that sign. If foreigners or people from other countries see us they will think, ‘Are these kids addicts?')

"'Pag makita ng ibang tao 'yan, 'Ano ba itong mga bata, alam na nila ang ganiyang sign. Mga adik ba ito?' Huwag nating turuan ang mga bata."

(If other people see it they will think 'We can't believe these children, they already know that kind of sign. Are they addicts?' Let us not teach the sign to the children.)

In a separate ambush interview, Moreno clarified that he does not aim to promote “bad things” through the two joints sign, adding that he only seeks to relate to the masses.

“It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just that - sa akin lang 'no - di ba kapag maggo-gobyerno ka, kailangan nauunawaan mo ang tao. Kapag naggo-gobyerno ka kailangan nakakarelate ka. Tapos pag naggo-gobyerno ka, ‘yung nakakatugon ka sa kakailanganin ng tao,” he said.

(When you are in the government, you want to understand the people, you want to relate to them, you want to address their needs.)

“Pero ito wala. Ano lang ito, para lang ma-appreciate ng tao na nauunawaan pa rin natin sila (I just want the people to appreciate that I understand them). But it doesn’t mean we encourage them to do bad things,” he added.

The Aksyon Demokratiko bet also said he respects the opinion of Pacquiao.—AOL, GMA News