Groups express support for Isko, switch from presidential rivals

Several volunteer groups on Thursday expressed their support for Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer Francisco “Isko” Moreno, with some supposedly switching to him from his rivals in the presidential race.

According to the Alagang Isko Association, members of more than 50 volunteer groups re-affirmed their support and switched to Moreno. The groups, the association claimed, had previously supported either Vice President Leni Robredo or former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

However, Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said no one in the list of switchers were supporters of the Vice President.

“Looked through the list of ‘switchers’ provided, and so far, wala naman akong nakitang supporter ni VP Leni. So, k?” Gutierrez tweeted.

For his part, the Manila mayor said he has heard about the switch in an ambush interview in Bacolod.

“I heard about it. It’s about 10 million Filipinos ‘yung composition nung 50 groups, multi-sectoral. I heard about it. I will look into it later. Ano ‘yan talagang bawat organisasyon ‘yan by the hundreds of thousands ‘yung members,”  he said.

Moreno also said he experienced something similar when he ran in 2019.

“One week before ha, one week before the elections may survey, pangatlo ako. One week before ng mayoralty elections… lumabas sa eleksyon, 51% ang nakuha ko,” Moreno said.

(A week before the elections, there was a survey and I placed third. It turned out I got 51% during Election Day.)

“Matutuwa ka talaga na tahimik lang pala ang tao talaga. Ayaw lang talaga. Kasi nga masyado nang masakit ‘yung iba sa kapwa so tumatahimik na lang sila,” he added.

(You'll be glad that the people are only silent. Some are beginning to hurt others that's why they just keep quiet.)

He also cited an instance in Guimaras where he approached a group of seniors.

“Ano sabi nila? Kami ‘yung silent majority. That’s the exact word nung matanda. Tahimik lang kami. Pero marami kaming nag uusap usap,” he said. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ/BM, GMA News