Manila Mayor and presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso, in a visit in a campaign sortie in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat on Sunday (20 February 2022), tells the Bangsamoro to “never forget” what happened during martial law. MindaNews photo by FERDINANDH CABRERA
BULUAN, Maguindanao (MindaNews / 21 February) – “Huwag kayong lilimot … kung sino ang kumitil ng buhay ng lahi ninyo” (Never forget … who killed your race), Manila Mayor and Presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso said before thousands of supporters here on Sunday, as he reminded them of their dark past under the 21-year rule of Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, father of former Senator Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, the candidate who is leading the surveys in the race for the Presidency in May.
“Kaya wag kayong makiuso. Ingat at baka matanso kayo” (Do not join the bandwagon. Watch out or you might be fooled), he said.
“Alam natin napakadugo nung nakaraan” (We all know how bloody that past was), he said, adding that at some point, the grandparents, uncles and aunts and brothers of those who attended the rally disappeared and have remained missing until now. “Tama” (you’re right), the crowd replied.
He said the people have tried a leader for 21 years, referring to Marcos, and the “dilawan na pink na” (yellows turned pink) for 18 years, apparently referring to Corazon Aquino and her son Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Fidel Ramos.
He urged the people to try him, to give him a chance to serve them for six years. He said a vote for him is a vote for the education of your children, a vote for the hospital for your people, for work for your children, and where you can experience a government where the people are the priority.”
Domagoso was guest of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party’s (UBJB) mass oath taking of officers and members in the Buluan, Maguindanao chapter on Sunday.
“It was the biggest rally of people we had since the kick-off of the campaign for the national candidates. We are thankful to the family of the Mangudadatu couple Toto and Sharifa and the Bangsamoro people who joined us in our campaign,” he said.
Buluan is the hometown of 2nd District Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, who is running for Governor of Maguindanao, a post he held from 2010 to 2019.
Manila Mayor and presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso chats with Representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu and wife Sharifa Akeel on Sunday (20 February 2022).
From Buluan, Domagoso moved to Tacurong City where he was joined by hundreds of tricycle drivers before meeting incumbent city officials led by Mayor Lino Montilla and allies of Aksyon Demokratiko party led by Sultan Kudarat gubernatorial candidate Sharifa Akeel, wife of Toto Mangudadatu.
Victor Paguital, a 29-year-old tricycle driver, said he wants Domagoso to be the next President because as Muslims, they are impressed with his concern over their welfare, and for building a cemetery for Muslims in Manila.
Paguital is hopeful that Domagoso could address the problem of skyrocketing prices of fuel that are making their lives even more difficult during this pandemic.
“We felt overwhelmed, a lot of our supporters are eager to see him and waited for him, we really hope to work with our vision, goals and advocacies to change the system in governance, anchored on laws and morality,” Sharifa Akeel-Mangudadatu said.
At the City Hall of Tacurong, the discussion was on COVID-19 and how their mayor, Angelo Montilla, who was infected, did not survive. The incumbent mayor, Lino, the late mayor’s brother and Vice Mayor, took over his post by virtue of succession.
They shared native delicacies and enjoyed wearing the Talakudong hat and from City Hall, proceeded to a resort in the city owned by the Mangudadatus and named after Toto’s first wife, Genalyn, who was among those killed in the November 23, 2009 massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
On Monday, Domagoso paid a courtesy call on Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Balwag Ebrahim. He also visited Kabacan in North Cotabato. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera / MindaNews)
