An official of the National Unity Party appeared to be balking on the idea of popular Manila Mayor Isko Moreno running for president.
However, the former actor running for vice president in tandem with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is clearly more than welcome based on a media interview with NUP Deputy Secretary General Reginald Velasco.
Asked if Moreno, who is a ranking NUP official, will get the party’s nomination for president, Velasco was non-committal, pointing out that this move may be too soon for the city mayor.
“Well si Mayor Isko kasi, meron pa siyang two terms. First termer lang siya eh (Mayor Isko still has two terms left. He is still a first termer),” Velasco said.
On the other hand, Velasco was quick to say “of course”, when a television reporter queried if NUP will support a Sara-Isko tandem.
Both local chief executives, together with Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, have been the talk of nearly all political discussions in the country.
Velasco explained that the NUP still does not have any decision on which tandem to support for the 2022 presidential elections.
The party executive said top leaders are still awaiting Moreno’s decision about the 2022 polls.
“Could either be senator, vice or even president. We are waiting for his decision also and that will be considered by the party because Isko is one of the officials of NUP, he is our vice chairman,” explained Velasco.
Pressed to give a clearer response on a possible presidential candidacy for Moreno, Velasco said the party “will only make a decision” once the mayor makes up his mind.
“We will also assess the winnability factor,” he said.
Velasco raised the possibility of a “free zone” for the presidency, just as what the party adopted during the 2016 presidential race.
The NUP official recalled that the party was divided on which presidential candidate to support, prompting the leaders to adopt the “free zone” principle that allowed members to support whoever they wanted to back.