“Don’t panic, it’s organic.”

NAGTIPUNAN, Quirino — Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday, March 3, said that his viral two joints hand sign is not related to illegal drugs.

“Drugs are prohibited under our law. But this is not drugs — Isko, Willie . I mean, I always wanted to relate to our constituency,” he said in an ambush interview during his campaign sortie here.

“It's natural. We were in Cotabato ‘yorme, yorme, two joints', syempre gusto ko naman maka-relate (of course I want to be able to relate) Then it went viral, because it's organic. But it doesn’t mean we're promoting illegal substance,” he explained.

The Manila mayor said he will never tolerate the use of illegal substances.

Asked if he is in favor of legalizing marijuana, he said: “No. Someday siguro (maybe). It will be subject to abuse. We have to fix our system first as a government and our mindset as a citizen."

"Anything, someday, somehow, everything, that science will prove it, as long as makikinabang ‘yung kalusugan ng isang tao, ano mang uri ng gamot na pwedeng makatulong sa kanya, na manuhay siya, then so be it (it will benefit the health of a person, whatever kind of medicine can help him, that he will live, then so be it),” he said.

Domagoso added he was just trying to relate with the people and joined the trend.

“I think one of the key success or elements in leadership is (for) you (to) understand your people. When you understand them, then makakagawa ka ng mga polisiya na kapakipakinabang direkta sa kanila (you can create policies that benefit them directly),” he added.

“Being relatable to you, why not? You take the leadership, you're trying to converse, you’re trying to reach people. You're trying to make them feel that you understand them. Hindi ba ganon ang governance, lagi mong nauunawan ang nasasakupan mo (Isn’t that governance, you always understand your constituents)?” Domagoso pointed out.

He also said the viral hand sign does not pertain to anyone.

Aksyon Demokratiko campaign strategist Lito Banayo said that Domagoso did not really know what the two joints hand sign meant when he first did it during his Mindanao trip.

“But yes, it went viral and wherever we now go, young people relate to it. We, of course, use God First as our hand sign because he has been using that even in Manila politics, but relating to younger voters is quite important, and the response to the two joints sign is quite refreshing.”