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Political positions of Isko Moreno

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Moreno in April 2019

Isko Moreno, the 27th mayor of Manila, the Philippines' capital city, from 2019 to 2022, and a candidate in the 2022 Philippine presidential election, took positions on several political issues through his public comments and his presidential campaign statements.

Domestic and economic policies

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Campaign against illegal drugs

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Moreno supports the Duterte administration's flagship war on drugs but without extrajudicial killings linked to it.[1]

Economy

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Moreno supports the idea on giving financial assistance to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including 0% interest on loans in financial institutions. Moreno is an advocate of using advanced technology in the agriculture sector. Moreno envisions a Department of National Culture and History in the executive branch. He also supports countryside development by constructing a "tourism circuit" and is in favor of digital transformation.[1] Moreno is also in favor of ending contractualization but wants the government to increase employment rate first by generating as many jobs as possible before considering such action.[2]

Environment

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Moreno advocates sustainable reforestation in denuded forests by involving indigenous peoples. Moreno is also in favor of responsible mining.[3][4]

Fake news

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Moreno is in favor of legally penalizing social media sites promoting fake news, disinformation, and misinformation, reiterating his stance as "non-negotiable".[5][6]

Ferdinand Marcos

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Moreno has said that he admired former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. "at some point", specifically for being a "visionary" and for his infrastructure projects, but condemns his links to corruption and human rights abuses. He also believes that abusers during martial law should be made accountable, and stands firm that martial law must not happen again. Moreno also supports the annual commemoration of the People Power Revolution.[7][8][9]

Freedom of Information

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Moreno is in favor that all government officials should be open to disclosing their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), including "their properties, belongings and their debts", being a public document. He also believes that the policy on Freedom of Information should be strengthened.[10][11]

Infrastructure

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Moreno has expressed support for the "Build! Build! Build!" infrastructure program of the Duterte administration. He envisions a well-planned zoning by making the National Land Use Act a priority legislation. Moreno is in favor of implementing socialized housing programs nationwide.[1] He has, however, shown opposition towards the administration's nationwide bike lane network specifically for the City of Manila, believing that the roads of Manila are "too dangerous" for cycling.[12]

Maritime

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Moreno spoke strongly on re-evaluating the current setup of the shipbuilding industry in the Philippines, criticizing it by saying that the brand new ships that are built overseas "enjoy tax incentives" but not the ships built by local shipbuilders which generate employment for the country.[13]

Party system

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Moreno pitched the need for the country to shift back to a two-party system for "smooth-sailing governance". Moreno also prefers the election of two senators per region for equal representation and expressed support for the continuation of the party-list representation system but emphasized that there should be safeguards to avoid abuse and manipulation, preferably regionalized to distance away from the idea of Imperial Manila. He also criticized that the party-list system is being used to exploit the poor and extend political dynasties.[14]

Political dynasties

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Moreno bans family members to enter politics or any public office while he remains in a government office. He expressed that he is "not comfortable" with the existence of political dynasties and is in favor of an anti-political dynasty law.[15]

Political turncoatism

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Moreno is not against transferring from one political party to another whenever he sees fit. He has expressed that he does not mind being called a "political butterfly", stating he would rather leave a political party whenever the party loses public trust and if his political principles does not coincide with the party's anymore. He added that "a public servant's loyalty should not lie with a political party, but rather to the people".[16][17]

Vandalism

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Moreno is also known for his consistent and controversial stand against vandalism and unauthorized tarpaulins.[18]

On November 12, 2019, the left-leaning group Panday Sining, the cultural arm of Anakbayan, defaced the newly-painted and cleaned Lagusnilad Underpass located near the Manila City Hall. Moreno slammed the group publicly and rejected their apology. The mayor also proceeded with their arrest after another act of vandalism in Recto LRT Station was attributed to the group. Panday Sining was officially declared as "persona non grata" in the city of Manila on December 6, 2019. Many left-leaning groups condemned the mayor's actions against them.[19]

In October 2020, Moreno ordered the removal of the tarpaulins declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines, as well as the New People's Army and the National Democratic Front, as persona non grata in the National Capital Region.[20] However this event prompted Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to ask if Mayor Isko is welcoming terrorists into Manila.[21] Moreno responded that they have an ordinance against all forms of vandalism. A few days after, Moreno publicly slammed and ordered the removal of graffiti painted by leftist advocates around Welcome Rotonda. On December 7, 2020, in an interview posted on YouTube, Moreno vehemently denied any support for or affiliation with the terrorist groups. Moreno is also against tarpaulins featuring faces of politicians even if they happen to be his partymates and had ordered the removal of tarpaulins that are political in nature since he assumed office.[22]

Social policy

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Moreno during an ambush interview with the media in 2022

Abortion and contraception

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Moreno is categorically opposed to abortion, reiterating his belief in the "sanctity of life". However, he is open for the government to provide other interventions that would help rape victims "move forward with their lives without harming their child". He is also open to the existing legality of "therapeutic abortion" in the country for medical necessity. Nevertheless, Moreno is in favor for people to freely choose whatever contraception and family planning method they prefer that can be offered by the state.[23][24][25]

Age of criminal liability

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Moreno is against the lowering of the age of criminal liability from age 15 to age 9.[26]

Capital punishment

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Moreno is against the reinstatement of the death penalty describing it as "cruel" as it affects wrongly-sentenced prisoners.[27]

Divorce

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Moreno is in favor of the legalization of divorce in the Philippines.[28][29]

Education

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Moreno is in favor of amending the educational curriculum in the country by developing tech-voc and agriculture courses in basic education, as well as enhancing the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum. Moreno is also in favor of enhancing early childhood education and development, as well as improving the accessibility to the internet of students and teachers.[1]

Health

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Moreno expressed the idea to invest in local human resources such as doctors and scientists to make locally-made medicines, even a vaccine, in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Moreno supports boosting vaccinations and establishing additional specialty hospitals in each of all 17 administrative regions. He also advocates for the establishment of the Cancer Center of the Philippines aiming to provide free medicines and medical procedures to indigents.[30] Moreno is against the legalization of medical marijuana stating that the "government should fix its system first" since it will be subject to abuse, but would reconsider if "further studies from science will prove that marijuana is a more effective treatment than other medicines."[31] Moreno supports the vaping bill and the regulation of electronic cigarettes to provide smokers with alternatives to traditional cigarettes.[32] Moreno is also in favor of promoting and strengthening policies in mental health. Additionally, Moreno believes that PhilHealth will be better managed by financial experts. He also supports increasing wages and benefits of healthcare workers.[33]

LGBT+ rights

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Moreno (right) and then-Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna (left) displaying the LGBTQI flag and walking on the rainbow-colored LGBTQI pedestrian lane in front of the Plaza Rajah Sulayman along Roxas Boulevard, which the city government of Manila inaugurated headed by Moreno, in support of the sector

In October 2020, Moreno signed Ordinance 8695 protecting members of the LGBT community from any and all forms of discrimination and abuse, including the denial of employment and other opportunities on the basis of the person's sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. As part of its campaign against discrimination, the Manila city government has mandated all establishments to have gender-neutral toilets by year 2023 and would be a requirement for the approval and renewal of business permits.[34][35]

However, he clarified in an interview that he is not in favor of same-sex marriage. He added that "it is our law and in a civilized world, we are guided by the law".[36] Nonetheless, Moreno supports same-sex civil unions.[37]

Pornography

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Moreno is in favor of legally penalizing social media sites promoting pornography.[29][33]

Women's rights

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In November 2020, Moreno signed into law Ordinance 8681 known as the "Gender and Development Code of the City of Manila" or the "GAD Code" which prohibits and classifies cursing, ridiculing, catcalling, and wolf-whistling on women as forms of sexual harassment, along with acts like repeatedly asking for dates despite verbal rejections, making offensive hand gestures or persistently telling "green jokes" to someone who finds it offensive or humiliating. It also mandates the city government to provide comprehensive support to survivors of violence, which includes immediate conduct of investigations, free counseling and medical services, and creation of community-based psychological programs and support groups. Women Crisis Centers in key districts of Manila shall also be established. Additionally, the ordinance increased maternity leave benefits from 65 days under Republic Act 11210 to 105 days and paternity leave benefits for fathers' participation in the aid of their newborn child for 14 days from the seven days mandated by law under Republic Act 8187. It further provides for a yearly 12-day menstrual/menopausal leave for women employees in private offices and commercial/industrial establishments located in the city, who have rendered at least one year continuous service. The ordinance also mandates the barangay GAD committee to organize elderly women within the barangay to advance their practical and strategic interests and needs. Beauty contests which tend to commodify, abuse, humiliate and treat other persons especially women and homosexual as sex objects shall strictly be prohibited in schools, communities, barangays and the city government in its special celebrations. The city and the barangay council are also mandated to ensure that at least one-third of its members is composed of women.[38]

Moreno has praised the country's female medical and health workers as well as the other women frontliners in various fields, acknowledging their roles as "critical and crucial as much as their male counterparts" in the country's response against COVID-19. He also lauded the mothers who need to leave their families in order to fulfill their duties as frontliners. Moreno also recognized the efforts of his then-vice mayor Honey Lacuna, the first ever elected female vice mayor in the history of Manila, calling her an "effective leader who has taken solid steps in gender equality and women empowerment" and described her as like an older sister to him. He gave Lacuna executive functions on a par with his mayoral duties. During Moreno's term as mayor, almost 50 percent of the City Hall's employees are women.[39][40][41]

Foreign policy

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General

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Moreno expressed strong opinions on a foreign policy aligned with what he calls a "Filipino-first" policy, envisioning that the Philippines will forge contracts, organizations, and even trade agreements, for that matter, if it is only beneficial to Filipinos.[42]

International Criminal Court

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Moreno expressed support of the Philippines returning to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if the move would "give a good impression to the world".[43]

OFW

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Moreno is in favor of entering bilateral labor agreement with other countries to ensure the welfare of both documented and undocumented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).[44]

South China Sea dispute and China relations

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Moreno agrees that the Philippines is not "militarily prepared" for an encounter with China, and that order must be upheld such as the Law of the Sea. He believes that the country's defense secretary should come from the navy, since the Philippines is an archipelagic country. On the issue of the country's claim to the West Philippine Sea occupied by Chinese forces, he believes that the Philippines' approach should be "fearless" in asserting the claim and should be responsive to the plight of Filipino fishermen, while at the same time should be "fair" and "sensible" in dealing with other countries also occupying the South China Sea, especially in trade. Moreno has criticized the United Nations (UN), questioning what they are doing in light of China's disregard of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). Moreno asserted that China needs to accept a 2016 arbitration award of the Hague ruling that made clear the Philippines' entitlements, including where it can fish and exploit offshore oil and gas, also citing the Velarde map as reference.[45] However, he also expressed opinion in forming partnerships with other countries as well as to prepare in terms of joint trade with China.[46][47][48]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Luna, Franco (February 27, 2022). "Here's what you need to know about presidential candidate Isko Moreno". philstar. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  2. ^ Noriega, Richie (March 24, 2022). "Isko says he wants to create more jobs first before ending endo". GMA News. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  3. ^ Ranada, Pia (November 17, 2021). "Isko to pursue 'massive' reforestation with indigenous peoples if elected". Rappler. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  4. ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (January 27, 2022). "Moreno OK with mining, 'but it must be responsible'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  5. ^ Luna, Franco (January 25, 2022). "Moreno says he'll go after social media companies allowing spread of fake news". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  6. ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei (March 24, 2022). "Isko says stance vs. fake news non-negotiable after Mocha endorsement". GMA News. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  7. ^ Ranada, Pia (September 22, 2021). "WATCH: Isko Moreno on what he admires, rejects about Ferdinand Marcos". Rappler. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  8. ^ Gutierrez, Dennis (February 24, 2022). "'We will not forget': Isko Moreno says abusers during martial law should be made accountable". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  9. ^ Caña, Paul John (July 17, 2019). "Does Mayor Isko Moreno Really Look Up to Ferdinand Marcos?". Esquire Philippines. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  10. ^ "SALN reveal? Moreno says only if other bets show theirs". The Philippine Star. Philstar.com. February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  11. ^ Requejo, Rey E. (January 26, 2022). "Isko willing to disclose own SALN". Manila Standard. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  12. ^ Moreno, Isko (June 21, 2020). "Why I'm half-hearted about setting up bike lanes in Manila". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  13. ^ Torib, Yashika F. (April 27, 2022). "Moreno, Gonzales vow to promote maritime interests". The Manila Times. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  14. ^ Moaje, Marita (April 4, 2022). "Isko Moreno makes pitch for PH return to 2-party system". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  15. ^ Yap, DJ (February 7, 2022). "Isko Moreno bans relatives from public office". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  16. ^ Ramos, Jaleen (November 24, 2021). "I don't mind being called a 'political butterfly' — Mayor Isko". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  17. ^ Valente, Catherine S.; Maralit, Kristina (February 5, 2022). "BBM opts to cook, Isko okays turncoatism". The Manila Times. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  18. ^ "Vandals should now face full-force-of-the-law". Manila Bulletin. October 23, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  19. ^ "Panday Sining declared as Persona Non Grata". ABS-CBN News. October 23, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  20. ^ "Isko wants anti-leftist tarps removed in Manila". Metro News Central. October 21, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  21. ^ "Parlade asks: Is Mayor Isko welcoming 'terrorist' CPP-NPA in Manila?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 23, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  22. ^ "No Politics over Tarp Removal". ABS-CBN. October 23, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  23. ^ Domingo, Katrina (January 27, 2022). "'Life is life': Isko not OK with abortion, even for raped women". ABS CBN. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  24. ^ "'LIFE IS LIFE': Moreno says no to abortion even for victims of rape, incest". TV5 Network. News5. January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  25. ^ "Isko to launch 2022 campaign from shrine of revolutionary heroes". Rappler. Rappler. February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  26. ^ Ranada, Pia (January 22, 2022). "Isko Moreno says 'no' to same sex marriage, 'yes' to divorce, 'no' to lowering age of criminal liability". Pia Ranada (verified) of Rappler. Retrieved April 14, 2022 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ Cabanban, Seth (February 2, 2022). "Mayor Isko: No to death penalty". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  28. ^ Jariel, Carmina (February 11, 2022). "Francisco "Isko" Moreno Domagoso: Where He Stands on Key Issues". The Beat Manila. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  29. ^ a b Lazaro, Cass (March 25, 2022). "Where Presidentiables Stand On Reproductive Rights, Divorce, And Other Issues Relevant To Filipinas". Cosmopolitan Philippines. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  30. ^ "Isko, Ong vow to build Cancer Center of the Philippines if elected in 2022 polls". Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  31. ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei (March 3, 2022). "Isko says no to legalization of medical marijuana, says system should be fixed first". GMA News. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  32. ^ Gutierrez, Dennis (February 6, 2022). "Vape bill gives 16 million Filipinos a chance to evade harm from smoking". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  33. ^ a b Famatigan, Mark Ernest (February 2, 2022). "Where does Isko Moreno stand on key issues?". Yahoo! News Philippines. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  34. ^ "PH capital Manila passes ordinance on LGBTQI protection". ABS-CBN News. October 29, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  35. ^ Talabong, Rambo (October 29, 2020). "Manila businesses ordered to have gender-neutral toilets by 2023". Rappler. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  36. ^ "Isko Vows to Restore Deteriorating Manila". Manila Bulletin. May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  37. ^ Escosio, Jan V. (January 26, 2022). "Isko Moreno says he respects same-sex union: 'LGBTQI not only recognized, they are part of my governance'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  38. ^ "Manila approves gender code to expand benefits, protect violence survivors". CNN Philippines. CNN Philippines Staff. November 10, 2020. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  39. ^ Gutierrez, Dennis (March 8, 2022). "Isko Moreno hails women frontliners in fight vs COVID-19". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  40. ^ Ramos, Jaleen (March 8, 2022). "Mayor Isko pays tribute to women frontliners, vows equal opportunities on Int'l Women's Day". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  41. ^ Cabayan, Itchie G. (March 22, 2021). "Lacuna excels as Manila's vice mayor". People's Journal. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  42. ^ Mendoza, John Eric (February 25, 2022). "Isko Moreno vows to adopt 'Filipino first' foreign policy". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  43. ^ Ranada, Pia (September 23, 2021). "Isko Moreno open to Philippines rejoining ICC under his watch". Rappler. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  44. ^ Ramos, Jaleen (April 9, 2022). "Mayor Isko wants PH to enter into bilateral labor agreement with other countries to protect OFWs". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  45. ^ L!fe, PhilStar (January 27, 2022). "Isko Moreno: 'We need solutions and action'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  46. ^ Famatigan, Mark Ernest (February 2, 2022). "Where does Isko Moreno stand on key issues?". Yahoo! Philippines. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  47. ^ Lema, Karen (January 31, 2022). "Manila mayor vows to take on China as Philippines president". Reuters. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  48. ^ Ong, Ghio (February 27, 2022). "Isko Moreno's foreign policy: Filipinos' safety first". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
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