Isko says he should get gold medal for facing media

“‘Yung ibang kandidato na-interview niyo ba nang ganito?”

On World Press Freedom Day, presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno said he should be given a gold medal for facing the media.

Moreno issued the remark when asked what his presidency would look like for the press.

“Dapat bigyan niyo ako ng gold medal. Sa totoo lang. Hindi ko naman itinatangos ang ilong ko… tignan niyo ‘yung ibang kandidato, nai-interview niyo ba ng ganito? Natatanong niyo ba ng ano man ang gusto niyo itanong?” he said in an ambush interview.

(You should give me a gold medal, to be honest. Look at the other candidates. Have you been interviewing them like this? Have you asked them what you want to ask them?)

“Pang gold medal. Kung may gold medal for interview, malamang gold medal ako, eh,” he added.

(If there are gold medals for interviews, I should probably get one.)

The Aksyon Demokratiko bearer said he will “speak his mind and heart.”

“So this is the kind of presidency for the media… para ito sa mga media. This is the kind of presidency. I’ll speak my mind, I’ll speak my heart. Walang sugar-coating. Some people may understand it, some people may not understand it immediately, but it’s real.” he said.

Moreno recently faced backlash following a joint Easter Sunday press conference with other presidential candidates where he called for the withdrawal of Vice President Leni Robredo.

“Walang sugar-coat, walang memorization, walang teleprompter. Wala. This is me. This is just me and this is the kind of presidency na ino-offer ko para sa inyo pag dating ng araw,” he added.

(No sugar-coating, no memorization, no teleprompter. Nothing. This is me. This is just me and this is the kind of presidency that I am offering you.)

He also vowed that he will not close down any franchise when questioned if he was the kind of person to do so.

“At hindi kita iba-ban. Hindi ako magsasara ng prangkisa [And I will not ban you. I will not cancel any franchise],” he said. — BM, GMA News