Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso has shrugged off comments made by critics that he is already neglecting his duties and responsibilities as local chief executive because of his “Listening Tour” in different parts of the country to personally interact with people from all walks of life.
At the same time, Moreno said he is willing to waive his rights under the Bank Secrecy Law and open his bank accounts in the spirit of transparency and show the Filipino people that he does not have any hidden wealth.
In an interview with reporters in San Andres, Moreno said his detractors are entitled to their opinion especially on how he governs the City of Manila.
But the 47-year-old presidential aspirant assured Manileños that the job of running the affairs of the country’s capital is not being neglected considering that his vice mayor, Dr. Honey Lacuna, is there ready to assist him and serve the people of Manila.
“Basta tayo, dito sa Maynila walang tulugan. Tsaka maswerte ako sa vice mayor. ‘Yung vice mayor ko battle-tested, si Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna. She really knows the job of being the vice mayor,” Moreno said.
The Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer said if Lacuna will be fortunate to win and become the next mayor of Manila, she will do a terrific job in bringing quality and efficient service to the public.
“I think may awa ang Diyos maging mayor na rin ng Maynila si Doc Honey. Basta ipagkaloob ng Diyos at taga-lungsod ng Maynila, so that she will continue to build more housing, she will continue and build more hospitals, build more schools, then ‘yung mga ayuda ng Manileño, 'yung allowance ng mga senior citizens, mga allowance ng PWDs, solo-parents, 'yung allowance ng mga estudyante, ng K-12, at allowance ng mga nasa kolehiyo, tapos 'yung mga ayuda kapag Pasko at may kalamidad, tapos 'yun pang infrastructure development, tapos 'yung open green space," Moreno explained.
“Itutuloy niya (Vice Mayor Lacuna) lahat ‘yun. Creating more parks and green spaces in the entire city of Manila for our environment. I think she knows everything already. She knows what to do kasi she was part of it, she is part of it. Lagi siyang kasama, she knows it very well and most of these passed through the city council under her leadership,” he said.
Asked what advice he would give to Lacuna if she emerged victorious in next year’s elections, Moreno said the most important thing is to ensure that the people have enough food on their table and will not go hungry and provide them with houses and jobs so they will enjoy a better life.
“Iyan ang kabilin-bilinan ko kay Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna. ‘Yang kalsada, walang kakalam na sikmura ‘yan pagdating ng alas-dose. Bubungkalin lang ‘yan kaya kailangan mauna ang bituka ng tao at mauna ang lupa para sa tao,” Moreno pointed out.
“Bigyan mo ng bahay para may disente mauuwian at pumanatag ang damdamin niya araw-araw. ‘Yun ang karapatan at bagay na makamit ng mamayan sa kanyang pamahalaan,” he added.
Moreno told reporters he is open to signing a waiver of his rights under Republic Act No. 1405, which prohibits disclosure of or inquiry into deposits with any banking institutions and provides penalties of jail term or fines for offenders, so his bank accounts and financial transactions can be accessed.
“I do not have any problem with it. Wala naman tayong itinatago,” Moreno said when asked if he would agree to yield his rights under the law.
“As long as na ito ay hindi gagamitin sa panggigipit sa kapwa. Iyon ang dapat nating ingatan kasi karapatan rin naman ng mamamayan natin iyong kanilang privacy,” he pointed out.
Moreno was in Barangay 775, Sagrada Familia in San Andres to provide P10,000 cash assistance to each of the 197 families who were rendered homeless by a fire that struck their community last Dec. 7.
Moreno said he and his running mate, Dr. Willie Ong, and the Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial slate of Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc, and Jopet Sison will continue to go to as many places as they can, greet and meet as many people as they can to listen to their problems and aspirations.
“Focused ako na kausapin ang tao, marinig ang tao, makita ang tao, malaman ko yung sitwasyon nila doon sa partikular na lugar kung saan man sila nakatira,” he said.
“It would be better for our people to have this kind of activities kasi mas maririnig nila yung intensyon ng mga kandidato, at mas maririnig ng kandidato yung hinaing ng tao. Yun ang gusto kong magawa. At sa pakikinig sa kanila, marami akong natututunan,” Moreno stressed.
For the past two months, the Aksyon Demokratiko candidates have already visited the provinces of Cebu, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, Zambales, Bataan, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac and Batangas.
