Isko Moreno Domagoso, presidential candidate of the Aksyon Demokratiko, rejected on Friday that his campaign was involved in vote buying after two men wearing his campaign shirts were detained in Caloocan City for reportedly providing rice in return for votes.

“Wala naman tayong kinalaman doon,” (“We have nothing to do with that,””) Domagoso said to reporters when asked about the incident.

“They can claim what they want to claim… Habang busy sila na nag-a-arrange ng pulitika nila, ako busy ako na lalapit sa tao,” (“They can claim what they want to claim … While they’re busy arranging their politics, I’m busy approaching people,”) he stated, noting that black propaganda is common during election season.

Domagoso stated that his campaign had followed all election regulations and even granted his opponents for the president more access to voters in his bailiwick, Manila, by waiving the issue of campaign licenses in the capital city.

“Ako kasi ang pananaw ko, hindi naman natin pag-aari yung isip ng tao hindi ko naman pag-aari yung siyudad, hindi ko naman pag-aari yung mamamayan,” (My view is that I do not own the minds of the people, I do not own the city, I do not own the people) he stated.

“Tao ang naglalagay sa tao sa gobyerno kaya sa Maynila, open city. Lahat sila puwede pumunta, puwede pumasok,” (“It is the people who choose who to place in government that;s why Manila is an open city. All of them are welcome to come, welcome to campaign there”) he stated.

The presidential candidate of Aksyon Demokratiko, on the other hand, stated that other local authorities have not shown the same courtesy to his team.

“Pinahirapan lang nila ang buhay namin, but remember, galing ako sa wala. Lahat ng hirap sa buhay inabot ko,” (“They are giving us a hard time, but remember, I came from nothing. I have experienced all the hardships in life”) Domagoso stated.

“Sanay naman ako sa hirap. Nakakaraos naman ako lagi sa awa ng Diyos. Masaya naman ‘yung team na nakakaikot din sila at marami kaming nadadapuan,” (“I am used to having a hard time. I get by with the mercy of God. My team is happy that we can still go around and that we have visited a lot of places”) he said.