Push Admin

Walden Bello slams Isko Moreno's 'racist remarks' vs Chinese

Article (news)

Josiah Antonio and Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="bello moreno composite" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/11/12/20211112-bello-moreno.jpg"/></figure></div><p>MANILA — Partido Lakas ng Masa vice presidential aspirant Walden Bello on Thursday criticized Manila City Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso’s alleged racist remarks against the Chinese. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer <a href="https://twitter.com/IskoMoreno?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IskoMoreno</a> tells fisherfolk in Bataan: “Yung mga chekwa sisipain ko pabalik sa kanila.”</p>— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) <a href="https://twitter.com/_katrinadomingo/status/1458261957811662849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Moreno earlier vowed to protect the West Philippine Sea in front of the fishermen in Bataan. However he used an alleged racial slur. </p><p>“ISKO MUST APOLOGIZE for using a well-known anti-Chinese slur in his campaign sortie in Bataan today. This is unacceptable: appeals to racism or racial prejudice should never be tolerated, especially during elections,” Bello said in a statement. </p><p>“Not only does Isko&#x27;s choice of words show how low he will go for his political ambitions, but it also shows how dangerously unnuanced and amateurish foreign policy will be under an Isko administration,” he added. </p><p>Bello said it is imperative to protest against the Chinese government and fight for sovereignty but it should be observed with respect to the Asian community. </p><p>“We do need to protest against the aggressive and interventionist actions of the Chinese government (and other governments interfering in the West Philippine Sea)--but we should not confuse the Chinese government for the Chinese people,” he said. </p><p>“Chinese-Filipinos are a valuable part of the Filipino community and they too are victims of normalized racism. I condemn his racist remarks and urge all other candidates to condemn this as well.”</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer <a href="https://twitter.com/IskoMoreno?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IskoMoreno</a> says he sees no need to apologize for using the term “chekwa” to refer to Chinese who illegally occupy parts of the West Philippine Sea: “Kung na-offend sila, mas na-offend ako. Sinasakop ninyo bansa namin.” <a href="https://t.co/CIwt7x3Nlj">pic.twitter.com/CIwt7x3Nlj</a></p>— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) <a href="https://twitter.com/_katrinadomingo/status/1459045326870900740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Moreno, meanwhile, said he would not apologize. </p><p>&quot;I am referring Chinese mainlander … and I don’t care, I don’t sugarcoat. Those [navies], those fishermen from China [who] continue to occupy our space need not sugarcoat our words. And as I have said dealing with [West Philippine Sea] we will be fearless and we will be fair and we will be faithful to the Filipino people to the fisherfolk and the fishermen,&quot; he told reporters. </p><p>He noted that his remark has nothing to do with the Filipino-Chinese citizens and was just referring to mainlanders from China. </p><p>&quot;If that offends them, I am offended dahil sinakop nila ang bansa natin but it has nothing to do with Filipino-Chinese, the Filipino-Chinese know it very well that I am referring to those mainlander, basta ako ganoon (I am like that),&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Kung na-offend sila, mas na-offend ako sinasakop niyo bansa namin eh.&quot;</p><p>(If they were offended, I am more offended that our county is being occupied.) </p><p>Bello is currently an adjunct professor of sociology at the State University of New York at Binghamton, according to Laban Ng Masa.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/20/21/walden-bello-is-new-vp-running-mate-of-ka-leody">Activist Walden Bello is new VP running mate of Ka Leody</a></li></ul><p>The former lawmaker is among 29 vice presidential aspirants next year, including Dr. Willie Ong, Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, and senators Kiko Pangilinan, Tito Sotto, and Bong Go. The list would be trimmed in the coming months to remove those found to be nuisance candidates.</p><p>Meanwhile, Moreno is among the 97 presidential aspirants including Vice President Leni Robredo, Sen. Panfilo &quot;Ping&quot; Lacson, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Sen. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; Dela Rosa, labor leader Leody De Guzman, former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, and former presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella.</p><p>The official campaign period for national position candidates for May 9, 2022, elections will start only on Feb. 8, 2022.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1825258" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Partido Lakas ng Masa vice presidential aspirant Walden Bello on Thursday criticized Manila City Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso’s alleged racist remarks against the Chinese. 

Walden Bello slams Isko Moreno's 'racist remarks' vs Chinese

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Walden Bello slams Isko Moreno's 'racist remarks' vs Chinese

Josiah Antonio and Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 12, 2021 11:45 PM PHT

Read More:

Halalan 2022

2022 elections

Isko Moreno

Walden Bello

China

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.