Pro-Isko exec denies stopping IM Pilipinas members from switching to Leni

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) — A loyal member of an Isko Moreno volunteer group has refuted the claim of a breakaway faction now supporting Vice President Leni Robredo that some of its members are being barred from jumping ship to the lone female presidential bet.

Speaking to CNN Philippines on Wednesday, IM Pilipinas secretary general Philip Piccio responded to the claim of lead convenor Tim Orbos that some members of the group cannot fully express their support to Robredo.

“This is a free country, if you really want to go, then you can go…No one went there,” Piccio said of Orbos’ faction. “Nabigla sila. Ngayon, he has to come up (with something like) pinipigilan sila?”

[Translation: They were shocked with the low count of members who jumped ship. Now, he has to come up with something that suggests some members were being prevented from joining?]

“Si Tim, matagal nang wala yan. That guy used IM, he jumped in and made papel with Isko in the volunteer organization and then nung wala nang mangyayari sa kanya…he left Isko and went to Leni,” Piccio said.

[Translation: Tim has not been with us for a long time. That guy used IM, he jumped in and acted like an important figure with Isko in the vounteer organization, and then when nothing was happening to him….he left Isko and went to Leni.]

Piccio said Orbos’ faction was only “demonizing” presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the kind of administration he will likely lead, so his faction could appear as a “knight and shining armor” vouching for Robredo’s candidacy.

In an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source on Wednesday, Orbos did not give a specific percentage of their group who have switched their endorsement.

“We found out that some of the officers — I’m not referring to the camp of Yorme, this is just IM Pilipinas — some of the officers there are preventing other people from moving out,” Orbos said.

READ: Former pro-Isko group says other members being barred from switching support to Leni

The volunteer group, one of the first to urge Moreno to run for president, claims to have around 200,000 members nationwide.

Piccio earlier maintained that “99%” of IM Pilipinas’ political officers are staying with the Manila mayor.

CNN Philippines’ Glee Jalea and Paolo Barcelon contributed to this report.