Samira Gutoc (second from right) takes her oath before Aksyon Demokratiko president Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Dr. Willie Ong. From the Facebook post of Samira Gutoc
MANILA, Philippines — More officials and personalities gunning for elective posts in the 2022 elections, including senatorial candidates Samira Gutoc and Carl Balita, have taken their oath with political party Aksyon Demokratiko.
In a ceremony on Monday, Gutoc, Balita, and other local officials like Albay Vice Governor Grex Lagman, Pateros City Mayor Ike Ponce, Pateros Councilor Jorge Nicdao, Quezon City Councilor Irene Belmonte, and former Western Samar Congressman Eduardo Cojuangco, swore under party president and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.
During the program, Moreno thanked those who signed up with Aksyon Demokratiko, saying that it is a show of support to their beliefs as they joined Aksyon even if the party is not financially lucrative for local candidates.
“Isa lang po ang masasabi ko sa inyo, maraming salamat sa inyong pagtitiwala sa partnership namin ni Doc Willie Ong, sa mga volunteers — at least sigurado ako, wala kaming pang-tosgas, KKB, kanya-kanyang bayad,” Moreno, who expressed intent to run for president in the upcoming polls, said.
(I can only tell you one thing, thank you very much for trusting the partnership between me and Doc Willie Ong and for the volunteers — what I am sure of is that we do not have much funds, we spend on our own here.)
“But I’m happy and grateful for your trust, may awa ang Diyos, mapagtagumpayan natin ito [God is merciful, we can win against these challenges],” he added.
Moreno also made mention of Balita and Gutoc, who would form part of Aksyon’s senatorial line-up.
“Sa ating bagong kasama, at dati na ring kasama sa Aksyon, ang Aksyon Demokratiko ay may dalang magandang balita galing kay Carl Balita, at syempre, kay Samira na ating kasama, kasama ng Aksyon,” the local executive said.
(For our new party-mates, and including our previous colleagues in Aksyon, Aksyon Demokratiko has good news for you brought by Carl Balita, and of course, from Samira, our new party-mate at Aksyon.)
“Natutuwa rin ako ngayon na may kandidatong senador galing sa Mindanao, galing sa ating mga kababayang Muslim, our brothers and sisters sa Mindanao, I’m happy and honored,” he added.
(I am also happy that there is a senatorial candidate from Mindanao, from our Muslim brothers and sisters in Mindanao, I’m happy and honored.)
All in all, 54 possible candidates in the 2022 elections suited up for Aksyon, while 17 sectoral group organizations also expressed their support for Moreno’s candidacy.
Moreno announced his presidential bid last Wednesday, vowing to heal the country and act quickly in ending the current COVID-19 crisis. He will have, Ong, and online personality and physician as his running mate.
READ: Isko Moreno: ‘I will become a healing president’
READ: Manila Mayor Isko Moreno formally announces 2022 presidential bid