MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president in the 2022 national elections.
Domagoso filed his COC at the Harbor Garden Tent of Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.
“Ngayon mga kababayan, tanggapin niyo po ang aplikasyon ko buong kababaang loob, ako po ay tumatakbong Pangulo ng bansa at aplikante ninyo,” said Moreno in a speech after filing his COC.
(Please accept my humble application, I am running for President of the country and your applicant.)
He will run under Aksyon Demokratiko party, where he is party president, with online personality and physician Willie Ong as his running-mate.
When asked if Aksyon Demokratiko had already completed its Senate slate for the upcoming polls, Moreno reiterated that he, as the party’s president, is “willing to work with anybody.”
“Anuman ang katatayuan nila — oposisyon, administrasyon, ano pang kulay ‘yan, dilaw, pula, asul, kahit ano pa sila — (whether they are from the opposition or administration, whatever their color is, whoever they are) what is important is our commonality. If they are into it, welcome sila sa amin ni Doc Willie (they are welcome with us),” Moreno said.
Currently, only Samira Gutoc, who filed her own candidacy on Sunday, and Radio Host Carl Balita have been announced as the party’s senatorial bets.
He then encouraged the public to vote for his running-mate, Ong, to ensure that a more united administration will prosper starting in 2022.
“I encourage each and everyone of you mga kababayan ko, ‘wag niyo kami paghiwalayin ni Willie. Pagod na kayo ng away. Boboto ng presidente, iba boboto ng bise presidente, lima anim na taon awayan ng awayan. One will be opposition, one will be administration, nakalimutan na ‘yung tao,” said the aspiring president.
(I encourage each and everyone of you, do not separate Willie and me. You are tired of fighting. When you vote for the president, and then vote for a different vice president, there would be five or six years of feud. One will be opposition, one will be administration, they then forget the people.)
Moreno’s name has long been floated as a possible contender for president given his track record as Manila mayor which has earned the praise of the public.
He officially announced his candidacy on September 22.
Domagoso also ranked well in presidential surveys, placing third in the latest Pulse Asia survey released on Sept. 29, with a rating of 13 percent.