Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s erstwhile chief of staff Cesar Chavez denied a report that disagreements between him and his former boss’ campaign team prompted his resignation from City Hall.

“No infighting in Isko’s camp,” Chavez told Manila beat reporters on Wednesday, October 13, in response to an article published by Politiko.

He earlier told Rappler there was no bad blood between him and Moreno and that his reason for leaving was his intention to return to his “first love,” radio broadcasting.

Last March, he said, his former media company, Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), offered to rehire him, which he accepted. He informed Moreno then and submitted his resignation as chief of staff last August 30. The resignation became effective on September 30.

Moreno’s campaign manager Lito Banayo said he was present when Chavez said he was being offered a high position at MBC, which runs DZRH.

“I said that’s a great opportunity, and the Mayor said it would be a good career move since he (Chavez) really loves being a broadcast journalist,” said Banayo in a message.

Banayo and Chavez enjoy personal ties as Banayo had stood as godfather at the latter’s wedding. In a previous interview with Rappler, Banayo said it was Chavez who helped bring him in to help with Moreno’s presidential campaign.

Aside from a career in media, Chavez has held a few national government posts, including transportation undersecretary and board member of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority under the Duterte administration.

Banayo dismissed the Politiko report as rumors and intrigue. Last October 1, he had also labelled as “fake news” a Politiko article alleging that Senator Bong Go had lent his chief of staff to Moreno’s camp.

The October 1 article, similar to the one about Chavez, cited unnamed sources. All the personalities mentioned in the article, including Go himself and his aide Gelo Villar, denied the claims in the article.

Banayo said that Politiko had never sought his comment before publishing these two articles. – Rappler.com