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Manila: The popular mayor of the Philippine capital city on Wednesday announced he was running for president in next year’s elections, the latest in a growing number of aspirants to replace President Rodrigo Duterte.
Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno declared his bid in a speech at a public school in the slum area where he grew up scavenging for leftover food from restaurants and other junk before he became an actor and then politician. “I have pulled myself out of the gutter with no Daddy Warbucks helping me along,” he told his supporters.
“I humbly announce to you my countrymen, this coming May, please accept my application as president of the Philippines,” he said. “It was not high ambition that drove my decision, but the sorry state of our country.”
The 46-year-old mayor has criticised the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the lack of medicines to combat Covid-19, prompting Duterte to launch a tirade against him in recent months. (dpa)
Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno declared his bid in a speech at a public school in the slum area where he grew up scavenging for leftover food from restaurants and other junk before he became an actor and then politician. “I have pulled myself out of the gutter with no Daddy Warbucks helping me along,” he told his supporters.
“I humbly announce to you my countrymen, this coming May, please accept my application as president of the Philippines,” he said. “It was not high ambition that drove my decision, but the sorry state of our country.”
The 46-year-old mayor has criticised the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the lack of medicines to combat Covid-19, prompting Duterte to launch a tirade against him in recent months. (dpa)
