Isko Moreno asked voters to consider him as an alternative to feuding politcal heavyweights, hoping to parlay his three-year stardom on social media as mayor of Manila to the presidency.
Francisco Domagoso in real life, the 47-year-old former actor started out as an early favorite to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte as he literally scrubbed the capital city clean of feces on the sidewalk.
However as the official campaign rolled on, Moreno found himself trailing behind survey frontrunner Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Leni Robredo, even slipping to fourth behind Manny Pacquiao in Pulse Asia's April 16 to 21 survey.
"Kitang-kita natin, pag sila laging tama, pag sila laging banal. Pag tayo'y nangangatwiran, bastos. Wow. Wagas, pang Ayala Avenue. Mga kababayan, ipapaala ko sa inyo, yang mga nasa Ayala Avenue, yan ang nagpangako satin ng pagbabago. Ipalala ko, nag-rebolusyon ang tao. Hindi sila. Ang tao nagpunta ng EDSA, nag-rebolusyon...Nangako satin, 1986, ng pagbabago pero bakit ngayon, ang pinag-uusapan pa rin natin, pagbabago." Moreno said.
"Pinagbigyan ba natin sila? Labingwalong taon. Kamusta naman kayo? Same-same. Kaya minabuti ko dito sa Tondo. Dito ko nagsimula, kayo ang tumangkilik sakin," Moreno said. "Eto walang kalaban."
"Hanggang ngayon, mga kababayan, eto na naman, gusto na naman bumalik nila...Mga kababayan, 1986, magka-away na ang pula at dilaw," Moreno said.
"Sabihin niyo sa mga kamag-anak niyo, samahan niyo akong tuldukan na natin ang away ng pula at dilaw. Let us just move on. Karapatan nating mamuhay sa kasalukuyan at sama-samang tayong kikilos nang mabilis para sa kinabukasan na anim na taon ng buhay mo, anak mo, apo mo, at ng lahi mo," Moreno said.
"Maiba naman, maiba naman, maiba naman," he said.
EXPLAINER: How Do Mayors Become Presidents?
Last April, Moreno dared Robredo to withdraw from the race as he accused her supporters of pressuring him to back out. His rating dropped after that Easter Sunday press conference.
Moreno is running with social media's star medical doctor Willie Ong as vice president. He is showcasing his COVID response as Manila mayor for voters to pick him over his rivals.
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