Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Tuesday, May 3, urged Manilenos to exercise their constitutional right to vote in the upcoming May 9 elections.
“Kayo binibigyan ko ng laya, layang katulad ng ginagarantiya ng ating batas. Hindi kayo makararamdam ng pagsikil, hindi kayo makararamdam ng pagpigil, hindi kayo makararamdam ng anumang uri ng pressure (You are given freedom, freedom that is guaranteed by our law. You will not feel oppression, you will not feel restraint, you will not feel any kind of pressure),” Domagoso said.
“Malaya kayong makakapamili. Kung sa tingin ninyo mas mabuti ang iba, bagay na dapat niyong sundin ang inyong damdamin (You are free to choose. If you think others are better, you should follow your feelings),” the Manila city mayor said.
The chief executive said he was hoping that Manilenos will be guided by God and their own sense of judiciousness in choosing their preferred candidates.
“Kaya sana gabayan kayo ng Diyos sa darating na Lunes. Bigyang liwanag ang inyong kaisipan ng ating Panginoon na pagdating na ng paghahatol ng bayan, maliwanag sana ang ating isipan, hindi punong-puno ng ulap ng kaguluhan at kalituhan. Nawa ang ating mga kababayan, matagpuan ang kanilang hinahanap na kalidaad ng isang lider sa darating na Lunes (May God guide you this coming Monday. May our Lord enlighten your minds that when Election Day comes, may our minds be clear, not full of clouds of confusion. May our countrymen find the quality of a leader they are looking for this coming Monday),” he said.
The Manila mayor offered himself anew as an alternative candidate should Filipinos want "peace of mind" and are already tired of the political scuffle between the Marcoses and the Aquinos.
“Pero ipinagpapaalala ko sa inyong lahat (But I remind all of you), just be careful because, remember, I have told you a few times, we cannot live in the past. Hindi tayo puwedeng makapamuhay sa nakaraan. Huwag tayong papayag na patuloy tayong hilain paatras ng mga kasaysayan nila (We cannot live in the past. Let us not allow their histories to continue to pull us back),” he said.
Domagoso maintained that whatever choice Manilenos make, he would respect it.
"Magnilay-nilay kayo. Uulitin ko, gusto niyo pula (Think about it. I will repeat, if you want red), I love you. Gusto niyo dilaw (If you want yellow), I still love you. But if you want peace of mind, I love you more,” he said.