Manila Third District Congressman Joel Chua said he felt betrayed over the decision of former Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso to run for capital city's top position after losing in the 2022 presidential elections.
Chua said the officers and members of the Asenso Manileño felt betrayed by Moreno's unilateral decision to run against the current mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan.
Asenso Manileño is the ruling party in Manila which catapulted Domagoso to become vice mayor and later as mayor.
Chua said he and Domagoso are not only sitting party mates but they treated each other like family, as well as the other party members.
The congressman pointed out that Domogoso never called for a meeting to discuss the matter and decided all by himself without even getting the party's consensus.
He noted that a meeting never happened in the past as the party always exercises democracy and treats all of its members' opinions as important.
The feeling of betrayal, according to Chua, who is the secretary-general of the party, stems from Domogoso's repeated pronouncements that he is retired from politics after losing in the 2022 presidential elections.
When the rumors began circulating that Domogoso is planning to run against Lacuna-Pangan, Chua said Domogoso repeatedly told them to ignore such rumors as he will never go against his "Ate" (Lacuna-Pangan).
"Kasi mula nun, sinasabi nya sa amin na di siya tatakbo eh. Right from the very beginning ang sinasabi niya sa amin 'wag kayo makikinig sa mga tsismis-tsismis . Lahat 'yan, hindi totoo. Di kami maglalaban ni Ate (Because since then, he has been telling us that he will not run. Right from the very beginning he tells us not to listen to the rumors. All of that, it's not true. My sister and I will not fight)," Chua stressed.
"At ito, hindi naman 'to sabi ko lang. Panoorin nyo lahat ng interview sa kanya. 'Yan din ang sinasabi nya sa lahat ng interviews. Sabi niya gedli na lang siya, retiro na. So, ano nangyari? Lagi niya sinasabi, ang laway niya nasasanla (And this, I didn't just say it. Watch all the interviews with him. That's what he says in all the interviews. He said he's just tired, he's retired. So, what happened? He always says, his saliva gets stuck)," he added.
Chua expressed hope that Domagoso will still reconsider his decision because it is hurting the very party that helped him achieve his ambitions and which was built as a family by their patriarch, the late Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna, Honey's father who also embraced Moreno as his own son.
According to Chua, there are high emotions involved because they treated and still treat Domagoso as a brother up until now and that they don't want to cause harm among themselves, since they are "family."
"Sa totoo lang until now, masakit sa amin 'to dahil parang kapatid nga namin eh.. magkakapatid kami isipin mo, ilang pamilya na ang nagkagulo-gulo dahil dito, magkakapatid, mag-aasawa, magkakaibigan. Tapos ngayon kita mo sa [Manila City] council, nagkakagulo at nagaaway-away ang magkakaibigan, di ba? Di lang sa loob kundi pati sa labas. Ang pangit at nakakahiya (Honestly, until now, it hurts us because he's like our brother.. Think about it, how many families have been in trouble because of this, siblings, couples, friends. Then now you see in the [Manila City] council, friends are making trouble and fighting, right? Not only inside but also outside. It's ugly and embarrassing)," Chua lamented.
"Andaming tumatawag sa akin na mga national figures kino-confirm kung totoo. Sa totoo lang, ang dami kong binitiwang salita na hindi 'yan mag-aaway dahil magkapatid 'yang dalawa [Isko and Honey]. Sa totoo lang, nahihiya po ko sa nangyari (There are people calling me who are national figures who are confirming if it's true. To be honest, I said a lot that they won't fight because those two [Isko and Honey] are siblings. Honestly, I'm ashamed of what happened)," he sighed.