Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Wednesday, Oct. 6 said he is not a member of the New People's Army (NPA).
"'Yung mga nagsasabing NPA (ako), hindi po ako NPA (Those who say I am an NPA, I am not an NPA)," the mayor said in a Facebook live.
Photos of Domagoso along with Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairperson Jose Maria Sison have been circulating in social media which were claimed as an evidence of links between the two.
"Mapalad po ako na noong naging Presidente si Pangulong Duterte, dahil ho siya inaalagaan niya yung mga NPA nung araw sa Davao. May relasyon si Presidente sa NPA (I was lucky when President Duterte became President, because he was taking care of the NPAs that day in Davao. The President has ties to the NPA)," Domagoso said.
He said he was given the opportunity to attend the peace talks in Netherlands, Oslo, and Rome.
"Na-meet ko 'yan sila Joma, Fidel, mga taga-gobyerno, mga militar. Nakikinig ako doon so meron akong mga natutunan (I met with Joma, Fidel, government officials, the military. I was listening there so I learned something)," he said.
"Come to think of it, akalain mong magagamit pala natin yung mga bagay na, 'ano ang gusto ng gobyerno?' (at) 'ano ang gusto nila?' Eh ano ba ang gusto natin? Away? O peace? (Come to think of it, who would have thought that we can use those things like, 'what does the government want?' (and) 'what do they want?' But what do we want? Conflict? Or peace?," Domagoso added.
He also said the photo circulating was altered by "spin masters".
"'Yung mga spin master o 'yung mga bata ng mga politiko. Hindi nila pinapakita yung picture namin ng military. Kinacrop nila yun eh (The spinmasters or the children of politicians. They don't show our picture of the military. They cropped it)," he said.
"Ingat kayo. Pag naupo yang mga yan, 'yang mga nagsisinungaling sa kasaysayan.. nako jusko.. ang bawi niyan satin grabe (Be careful. If those people sit down, those who lie on history.. the price we will pay will be terrible)," the Manila mayor added.
Domagoso officially announced his bid for presidency in the 2022 national elections last Sept. 22.
He filed his certificate of candidacy on Monday, Oct. 6.