Cagayan De Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has called on presidential bet Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso to move on from his call urging rival candidate Vice President Leni Robredo to withdraw from the 2022 Palace race.

“The proposed pullout of VP Leni from the election for president is a non-issue in the first place. She is a strong candidate and she has the best chances of overtaking the survey frontrunner,” House Deputy Speaker Rodriguez said in a press statement on Friday, April 22.
Domagoso, last April 17, held a controversial Easter Sunday press conference wherein he urged VP Robredo to withdraw from the palace race.
The reason for Domagoso’s withdrawal appeal? The mayor alleged that VP Robredo had similarly urged him and other candidates to withdraw from the Palace race, adding that she had also made an effort to convert support groups previously aligned with her rival candidates.
Rodriguez further defended VP Robredo’s character, adding that Domagoso should “look for another issue to exploit".
“I believe VP Leni’s spokesperson . It’s not in her character to call on any of her opponent to back out and give way to her. She’s a very respectful, circumspect and very proper person,” Rodriguez said.
“But it is negative publicity, judging from the flak he has been getting. Even those who were in the press conference with him have dissociated themselves from his statement. In fact, Secretary Gonzales has even apologized to VP Leni for his presence there,” he concluded.
Rodriguez previously voiced his support for VP Robredo, describing her as the best candidate “for our country, our children". He even urged President Duterte to endorse her.