A group of supporters of presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso joined hands in appealing for the payment of P203-billion estate tax of the Marcoses.

In a statement on Monday, April 4, the SWITCH! ISKO Na Tayo! Movement backed Domagoso’s call for former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s family to pay the P203 billion in estate tax that has accrued for decades.

“We, the representatives of various labor unions, transport groups, community organizations, professionals and volunteer groups, joined forces today to call and demand from the Marcoses the payment of P203-billion estate tax that had already been due for decades,” the group said.

“We are united in saying that every responsible Filipino is obliged to pay taxes so that our government functions well with its mandate, especially in the delivery of services to our fellow citizens, it added.

The group also echoed the Manila mayor’s earlier statement that proceeds from these tax debts could be used as additional “ayuda” for Filipino families.

“Imagine how many hungry families you can feed, how many school and hospital buildings you can build, and even provide financial assistance to millions of poor families and displaced workers if only the government can collect the total P203.819 billion Marcos estate tax,” it wrote.

“We had enough of the empty promises we hear from Marcos Jr., promises of unity but he is dividing us all, of rebuilding our nation but he is destroying our economy and making us his family’s milking cow. At the end of the day, we are all victims of false assurances, nothing but lip service,” the group stressed.

The group then thanked Domagoso for exposing the Marcoses estate tax to the public, saying it allows people to rethink on who they should vote for.

“We are thankful to Mayor Isko and his party, Aksyon Demokratiko, for bringing this up, exposing the Marcos estate tax so the people may know the truth about Marcos Jr.’s intention of running for the highest post in the country,” it stated.

“We decided not to support Marcos Jr. after we learned of his family’s wanton disregard of paying the tax obligation. Are the Marcoses sacred cows? Are they above the law? Is Marcos Jr. running so this billions-worth of estate tax will be erased?,” they added.

The SWITCH! ISKO Na Tayo! Movement, meanwhile, said among the reasons why they decided to support Domagoso is that they see him as the most “genuine, the most capable, and God-fearing” out of all the presidential candidates.

The group also cited Domagoso's exceptional leadership as the mayor of the nation's capital during the pandemic, “We are 100 percent behind Mayor Isko, in his plans and programs for our country, because he is indeed true to his words: “Tunay na Solusyon, Mabilis na Aksyon — Bilis Kilos,” it said.

“We have seen and analyzed his Bilis Kilos 10-point agenda, which will address our country’s needs in the next six years and even beyond: Housing, education, labor and employment, health, tourism and creatives, infrastructure, digital transformation and industry, agriculture, good governance and smart governance.” The Manila mayor earlier said he decided to run for the highest position in the county to offer what they have done in the city that are duplicable and scalable.