(UPDATE) Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said Monday he would vote for President Rodrigo Duterte as senator in next year's elections, adding he would be "humbled and honored" to have the chief executive in his ticket.
Duterte is his "personal choice" for senator, said Moreno, citing the 76-year-old leader's "many" achievements during his six-year term.
"I'm going to vote for him personally. I'm going to endorse him, hopefully kung papayag siya. I'll be humbled and honored na um-oo si Pangulong Duterte. Nakuha ko nga siyang iboto, 'di ko pa ba siya makukuhang i-adopt?" he said during his Lapu-Lapu City visit.
"Basta ako sigurado ako sa sarili ko, apat na iboboto ko: 'yung aking tatlong senador at 'yung personal choice ko na si President Duterte."
Moreno has three senatorial aspirants in his lineup: radio personality Carl Balita, lawyer Jopet Sison, and Muslim civic leader Samira Gutoc, who resigned as member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission after Duterte's rape jokes.
"Wala na siya kandidatong presidente e, puwede na namin siya i-adopt if and if, again, kung gusto ni Pangulong Duterte."
Aksyon Demokratiko said it stands by Moreno's pronouncement without categorically stating the party would adopt Duterte as its senatorial bet.
"Aksyon has taken a centrist and objective stand on many issues and is not an opposition party per se. We believe that there are current administration policies and programs worth continuing while there are some that can be improved, discontinued, or rectified," its chairman Ernest Ramel told reporters.
Moreno, who had criticized Duterte's handling of the pandemic including the face shield requirement, earlier said he would appreciate Duterte's endorsement. He also denied he was the chief executive's secret candidate.
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