After Bong Go’s withdrawal from presidential race, some Duterte supporters join Isko Moreno

RODRIGUEZ, Rizal – Mayor Dennis Tom Hernandez on Wednesday formally switched his support to Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate Isko Moreno Domagoso after he, along with other political leaders, were politically “orphaned” with Senator Bong Go’s withdrawal from the presidential race.

Hernandez, who is running for his second term as mayor, has been an active supporter of Senator Go and was able to make him win in this Southern Tagalog town in the 2019 senatorial race. The Municipality of Rodriguez has 209,000 registered voters and is a new district of Rizal province.

On Wednesday, the second day of the 90-day campaign period for national posts, Moreno resumed his provincial sorties in Rizal province, visiting the towns of Rodriguez and San Mateo with his vice presidential candidate Doc Willie Ong and Aksyon senatorial bets Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison.

Moreno and his Aksyon Demokratiko slate made a courtesy call to the Rodriguez City Hall and it was during his visit that Mayor Hernandez formally expressed his full support behind his presidential candidacy.

“Hinahangaan ko po ang Manila. Sa totoo lang, noong nakaraang buwan ay Bong Go po kami. Pero dahil umatras si Bong Go, binigyan po kami ng laya ni Governor (Nini Ynares) kung sino po gusto naming piliin. Ikaw (Isko) po ang laya namin. Siyempre po, tayong mga magulang, iniisip natin ang future ng ating mga anak. Kaya po nakikita ko sa inyo, galing po kayo sa hirap, naiintindihan niyo po ang sentimyento ng ating mga kababayan,” Hernandez said.

“Mayor Isko, kung sa Maynila ay nasasanla ang laway mo, dito sa Rodriguez ay puwede ring isanla ang laway ko,” Rodriguez said as he vowed to campaign for Moreno in his municipality.

Hernandez is among a number of former supporters of Senator Go who have transferred their support behind the candidacy of the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer.

On Tuesday, officers and members of the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC), a big volunteer group that propelled President Rodrigo Duterte during the 2016 elections, formally shifted their support behind Moreno’s presidential bid.

Earlier, known staunch Duterte supporter actress Vivian Velez also shifted her support to Moreno and is now actively mobilizing her group to campaign for the 47-year-old presidential candidate. Velez is currently president of the Film Academy of the Philippines.

Former Agrarian reform Secretary John Castriciones, the president of MRRD, expressed the group’s commitment of support during the proclamation rally of the Aksyon Demokratiko party that officially kicked off the 90-day campaign of national candidates.

“In my capacity as president of the MRRD-NECC, we manifest our strong support for the candidacy of Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso. Ngayong election na ito, amin pong sinusuportahan ang kandidatura ni Mayor Isko Moreno, ang susunod na presidente ng ating bansa,” Castriciones said as he shared the stage with national and local officials supporting Moreno.

READ: New, expanded CARP on top of Castriciones’ agenda

Besides Castriciones, other officials and members of MRRD-NECC were also present at the Kartilya ng Katipunan where the proclamation rally was held.

The former Duterte Cabinet member made it clear however that his and his group’s manifestation of support has nothing to do with his own candidacy, being a senatorial candidate under the Cusi wing of PDP-Laban.

“Ako po ay tumatakbong senador. Pero ngayong hapon na ito, nadirito ako para hindi mangampanya para sa aking sarili. Ako po ay nadirito ngayon para suportahan ang kandidatura ni Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso,” he clarified.

According to the former Duterte Cabinet member, they decided to throw their full support behind Moreno after considering his platform of governance, which includes prioritizing agriculture.

“We ought to know that agriculture is the last frontier of our survival. Now that we are experiencing the ill effects, the onslaught of the pandemic, we should try to support agriculture, because without agriculture, we will not have food sufficiency,” Castricciones pointed out.

“As a secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform, I had the opportunity to talk with Mayor Moreno in order to ask him about his position regarding agriculture. You know my friends, this is the opportune time for us to really support this man, because he has a very clear policy when it comes to agriculture,” said Castriciones.

Isko Moreno’s 10-point Bilis Kilos Agenda

Agriculture is one of the main pillars of Moreno’s 10-point Bilis Kilos Agenda which seeks to accelerate human and economic growth through the efficient and prudent management of government resources.

Given the chance, Moreno said among the first economic policies that his government will introduce is to cut the excise tax of petroleum products by 50 percent to bring down the cost of food production, especially rice, raise the income of farmers and fisherfolk, bring down the prices basic commodities and sustain food production.

In the same manner, he said that a 50 percent tax cut on electricity would mean more food on the table and more money to spend on basic needs, including medicines.

Secondly, Moreno said his administration will buy the surplus produce of farmers at the right price to assure them of their income and help them rise from poverty. To further assure farmers of their income, he will also issue clear guidelines about the strict importation of agricultural products, and clamp down on smuggling of agriculture products to protect the interests of local producers.

Moreno also assured Filipino fishermen unimpeded fishing in abundant fishing grounds within our sovereign territory, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. A Moreno government would also lead the effort for farmers to adopt new technologies to further increase their productivity, and help them connect with reputable businessmen for their products.

Additional support to the agriculture sector includes providing risk-free capitals to farmers and fisherfolk; building more irrigation systems while improving the efficiency of existing ones; establishment of cold storage facilities across the country and in major production areas; and establishing the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, among others.

In view of this, Castriciones urged the people to rally behind the presidential bid of Moreno to ensure that the country attains peace and development.

“Tulong-tulong po tayo, suportahan po natin si Mayor Isko sapagkat siya po ay may isang maliwanag na plataporma para po sa ikauunlad at kapayapaan ng ating bansa. Kaya muli, ngayong hapon na ito, we profess our support for the candidacy of Mayor Isko Domagoso. Mabuhay po si Mayor Isko,” Castriciones said.