TEAM Isko chief campaign strategist Lito Banayo on Tuesday said various sectoral and volunteer groups remain solid in their support for Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso despite claims made by the lead convenor of the Ikaw Muna (IM) Pilipinas Visayas chapter supposedly shifting the group’s support to another candidate.

“Unang-una, isang tao lamang ang alam naming nagsalita, si Mr. (Nick) Malazarte, at meron namang statement yung karamihan nung mga Visayas for Isko, VISA, at mga grupo sa Cebu na dine-deny yung claim ni Mr. Malazarte, na siya ay nag-iisa lamang,” Banayo said during a press briefing at the Isko Moreno Domagoso for President headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

“Sa katunayan, sa darating na (Abril) 8 and 9, ay pupunta si Mayor Isko at ang kaniyang team sa Cebu, at ang magho-host sa kanila ay volunteer groups na based sa Cebu at Visayas. So, hindi namin alam kung ilan ang sinasabi ni Ginoong Malazarte na diumano ay lumipat kay Vice President Leni (Robredo),” he added.

Banayo’s statements were bolstered by the leaders of various groups in the Visayas, who pointed out that Malazarte’s presence is hardly felt on the ground despite claiming to be the leader of the IM Pilipinas chapter.

Dr. Winley Dela Fuente, head of the Visayas for Isko-Sara Alliance (VISA), said that Malazarte has not been actively participating in the activities of the sectoral groups in the Visayas that are pushing Moreno’s candidacy.

Edward Ligas, head of President Isko Movement-Isulong ang Kapakanan ng Pilipinas, noted that Moreno is actually getting tremendous support on the ground, with at least 30 sectoral groups in the Visayas backing Moreno.

On the other hand, Ely Abella, head of Inisyatibo ng Makabayang Pilipino, said that it was actually Malazarte who did not have solid followers that could help boost Moreno’s bid, and his decision to leave will be hardly felt.

“In a toxic environment such as what we have, where ‘pink trolls’ proliferate, kaya maraming hindi sumasagot ng tama sa surveys e dahil sa bashing na ginagawa ng iba’t-ibang sides. So this has engendered a sense of parang fear on the part of a lot of people,” Banayo said.

“Sa madaling salita, ang pinag-uusapan natin dito, kung itutuloy natin ito, ay magkaisa tayo para sa isang tao. Hindi naman yan tama. Kasi sa aming pananaw, ang pinaglalaban nga namin yung mamamayan, hindi isang tao o isang faction,” Banayo said.

“It’s about people, it’s not about warring factions. It’s not about exclusive factions who think they are morally upright compared to the rest of humanity. So, I don’t think that will prosper,” Banayo said.

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