- Mayor Isko Moreno slammed critics of his product endorsements.
- Netizens criticized Yorme for his epal endorsements.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno got emotional after accusations of him being epal made rounds on social media.
A fuming Yorme faced the camera in his usual Facebook live at the Manila City Hall.
Moreno slammed his critics who targeted his product endorsements as seen on EDSA Billboards.
Moreno’s rant was ignited by the Facebook post of human rights lawyer Atty. Fudge Tajar.
In her post, the lawyer questioned Isko’s endorsements which are prohibited under the law.
“Kapag yung pa-cute na mayor ang lumabag sa batas, okay lang kasi napupunta naman for a “good cause” through donations ang talent fee n’ya sa endorsements ng produkto.
“Pero yung vendor na nasa kalsada para magtinda at buhayin ang pamilya n’ya, hindi pwedeng lumabag sa batas kasi hindi yun for a good cause? Papakainin mo yung pamilya mo, hindi ba yun good cause?” she wrote.
Atty. Tajar even cited the provision in the law that says it is unlawful for local executives to exercise any other occupation in a couple of Twitter posts.
Igalang daw ang batas?
Sec. 90 of the Local Government Code
SEC. 90. Practice of Profession.
(a) – xxx- city and municipal mayors are prohibited from practicing their profession or engaging in ANY OCCUPATION other than the exercise of their functions as local chief executives. pic.twitter.com/7HKY7e6P4w— Fudge Tajar (@fudgetajar) January 23, 2020
Para po sa mga nagtatanong about the purpose behind Sec. 90 of the Local Government Code. Again, sa governors at mayors lang po ito applicable. pic.twitter.com/gIY3IIO7yU
— Fudge Tajar (@fudgetajar) January 25, 2020
But the Mayor was defensive in his address, obviously slamming Tajar and his critics.
While not directly answering Sec.90 of the civil service code, the Mayor instead justified his modeling stint as an act of goodwill.
“Nagagalit kayo, pinagalitan ko kayo nang pinturahan ninyo yung pader ng may pader dito.
“E, hiningi ko lang yun, ipinangmalimos ko lang yun dahil dugyot yung underpass.
“O ngayon, sasama ang loob ninyo na nagkaroon ng gobyerno na nagsasaayos lang, o dahil sumama ang loob ninyo, hahanapan ninyo ng butas ng may butas, kahit butas ng karayom, bubutasin ninyo?
“‘Tapos kung mangangatuwiran tayo, baluktot? Dapat daw payagan ko ito dahil yung ginawa ko raw, illegal.
“Dahil under Section 90, mema [may masabi lang].
“Anong buti noon sa Batangas? Dahil naiinis ka lang sa pagmumukha ko sa EDSA? Is that fair?
“Dahil minsan kong hinuli ang mga kasamahan mo, e, mali? Dahil baluktot ang pangangatwiran ninyo?” said Mayor Isko.
Getting overcome with emotion, Yorme raised his voice and teared up.
“Yung laway niyo, walang bisa!
“Yung luha ng nanay, hindi niyo kaya yun kasi hindi kayo naging mahirap!
“Yung umiiyak yung tatay, umiiyak yung nanay, may tumor yung anak niya, walang magawa ang gobyerno.
“Walang magawa ang mga mayor, kasi limitado ang kapangyarihan sa paggastos sa isang pasyente dahil milyon… buhay niya?
“‘Yan ang tinatamaan ninyo, ng kagalingan ninyo. Diyan kayo magaling!
“O, pumunta kayo dito, dito kayo manood ng tunay na sitwasyon ng tao!
“Makita niyo yung iyak ng ina na may tumor yung anak niya,” said the emotional Moreno
In the end, the Mayor left it to his constituents to judge him and challenged his accusers that he will not stop.
“Mga kababayan, kayo na ang humusga sa akin.
“Then, if that’s the case, na maraming naaabot yung perang ipinamahagi ng mga pribado, sa ginagawa kong pag-endorse, para sa kapakinabangan ng pribado at, higit sa lahat, on top of everything, kapakinabangan ng mga nalulugmok, biktima ng trahedya—then I will continue to do it.
“I will not stop. Mamatay ka sa inggit.”
Meanwhile, many netizens also shared the sentiments of Atty. Tajar. They also slammed Moreno for being epal and uncalled for dramatic antics which they compared to traditional politicians.
So now you're using the poor to justify your brand endorsements (which are illegal by the way). Where was this concern when you stripped them away of their livelihood? Hindi ba sila umiiyak noon? So gagamitin mo lang ang mahihirap para sa sarili mong interes? https://t.co/1YtqkWQyRQ
— millennial of manila (@MillennialOfMNL) January 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/paranoid_androo/status/1221093560176394242
https://twitter.com/macronikki/status/1220983205752266752
Billboards with product endorsements are a conflict of interest, nothing more, nothing less.
— arthos (@arthos3) January 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/Zindrex1/status/1221098973642936320
https://twitter.com/Zindrex1/status/1221098973642936320
I used to follow his socmed pages but after seeing too much theatrics, I unfollowed all of it,that kind of drama fooled me once into voting an ass**Ole into office and I am regretting it to this day.
— rumbledan (@rumbledan) January 26, 2020
Ayan na, dinaan na sa drama, wag ka na, meron na iyakin, kalbo nga lang #YormEpal #TutaDinPala
— ron 🇵🇭🇺🇦🌏💖 (@JohnronP) January 25, 2020
Bato levels sa crying game.
— Alvin Vaughn™ (@AlvinVida) January 25, 2020
If there are critics of Yorme’s antics, there were also those who support and laud his efforts.
He is doing his best in helping others. He uses his professional fee from endorsements to extend help to people in need instead of using gov't funds. Sen Pacquiao has endorsements and he is still active in boxing & yet nobody is complaining. Why is @IskoMoreno being singled out?
— PDmd (@PeckelMd) January 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/Chris_USMC_Vet/status/1221211856297058304
Pkielam ko kung maepal si Isko, meron naman cyang K magepal.
— Gwapong Pinoy (@gwapong_pinoy) January 25, 2020
idk. But i see a man who's busting his ass off 24/7 to make a very good job or at least he's trying
— Kris A. (@krisallergic) January 25, 2020
If pagiging epal results to an organized community then I’d rather have a pa-epal leader.
— Zoi (@hannahgimotea) January 25, 2020
