In a statement, Lopez said dragging the name of his father, former Manila Mayor Mel Lopez, in the issue “lowers the moral standard and is not suitable for a civilized society.”
Lopez also maintained that his father served as mayor from 1986 to 1992 and that many other administrations sat in the City of Manila, denying that it was his father who entered into a contract with a private company. “It is sad to think that Asenso Manilenyo’s statements are pure deception about the sale of Manila city properties. Other major cities, have never sold its assets to augment their budgets for COVID-19 response,” Lopez said.