Manuel Morato

Manuel "Manoling" Morato (born November 17, 1933) is a former government official in the Philippines.

Senate Hearings on PCSO Corruption

In 2011, the Philippine Senate uncovered the fact that under Morato, the PCSO never assisted any non-Catholic religious organizations. Morato said that other religions are also allowed to request the same type of assistance from the PCSO, but could not name any non-Catholic religious organizations or leaders who received similar donations from the PCSO.^[1]

Political life

In the 1992 elections, Morato ran for the position of Philippine senator but he lost.

In the 1998 elections, he founded Partido Bansang Marangal (National Dignity Party) and ran for the position of President with Camilo Sabio as his running mate, but he lost. He lost to his nemesis, then Vice President Joseph Estrada, earning last place in the results.

In the 2001 elections, together with Sabio, he ran for the position of senator and lost.

TV shows and movies

Morato hosts a weekly talk show Dial-M with former actress Maggie dela Riva on state-owned National Broadcasting Network. The show was initially for lotto draw results but he decided to add his commentaries and viewer phone calls. One of its episodes featured a security camera video showing Joseph Estrada gambling in a casino. The show was cut off in 1998 when Estrada ascended to the presidency and was returned in 2004 when Arroyo appointed him as board director of the PCSO.

His life was filmed in 1998, before the Philippine centennial celebrations, with the role portrayed by actor Joel Torre.

In August 2011, he was charged with four counts of election offences, accusing him of using his television show to campaign for Gilbert Teodoro.^[2]

References