Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, his running mate Dr. Willie Ong, Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial bets Dr. Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc and Jopet Sison as well as guest candidate John Castriciones held a motorcade that passed through the cities of Bacoor and Imus in Cavite.
MANILA, Philippines — Several sectoral groups on Thursday went to the campaign headquarters of the Isko Moreno Domagoso for President in Intramuros, Manila and signified their support for the candidacies of Moreno and his vice presidential bet Doc Willie Ong.
Doc Willie and Aksyon senatorial bet Dr. Carl Balita had just arrived from their sortie in Bohol province as part of Team Isko’s strategy to cover as much ground as possible since the halfway of the national campaign draws near.
From the airport, Doc. Willie went straight to the campaign headquarters to meet the leaders and members of the sectoral groups that include the Maritime Para Kay Isko, Dyip ni Isko/Yorme, Letranista Para Kay Isko, Samahan ng Magsasaka, Isang Bangka, Isang Diwa, and PARDSS FII or the Peace Action and Rescue with Dedication to Serve the Society, a non-governmental organization duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and whose mission is to assist the Philippines and other local government units in promoting peace, unity, public safety and development in the country.
Ong also met with the Manila’s Finest Force Multiplier’s Alliance, an umbrella organization whose member groups also include the Diamond Group, ACCERT, JTF Guardians, Mata ng Maynila, Batang Maynila Anti-Crime Group, Made in Manila Movement, AFCAG-CBP, and the CIG-Manila.
“Unang-una po nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat sa inyo talaga. Na touch ako, taos-pusong pasasalamat sa lahat sa inyo sa pagpapakita nyo ng suporta sa amin,” Ong said.
The 58-year-old Ong, a cardiologist and internist, told the Team Isko supporters that his desire to help the poor get access to quality medical services prompted him to join Moreno and seek the second-highest position in the land.
“Alam nyo hindi talaga ako politiko, hindi ako trapo, ayokong magsalita ng peke. Twenty seven years na akong doctor, isa akong cardiologist at internist, magulang ko may kaya, maayos sila pero pag nakikita ko yung mga mahihirap na nakikita nyo sa kalye… kasi pinupuntahan namin eh. Yung mga pasyente sa Tondo, sa ibang lugar pinapasok ko talaga yung bahay nila kami ni Doc Liza,” Ong said.
As in previous motorcades, Moreno was greeted by droves of people from their homes to wave their hands at the smiling mayor while many try to shake the hand of Moreno while on board the float truck.
“So, pagpunta ko sa bahay nila nakita ko talaga sobrang init ng yero diba? Tapos yung bata may sakit, yung nanay hirap na hirap talagang walang pag-asa sa lugar. Kaya lagi kong naiisip yun kung papaano ang gagawin natin. Sa tagal kung doctor ganun pa rin ng ganun,” he said.
Ong said going around the country together with Moreno during their Listening Tour last year and the start of the campaign period for national candidates on February 8 further opened his eyes on the poor the healthcare system in the country.
“Galing kami sa Bohol biro mo walang gamot sa high-blood, walang gamot sa diabetes, wala silang pang opera, ni amlodipine walang libre. Paano mabubuhay ang mga tao don? Ni pang kubeta wala. Talagang grabe ang corruption, diba?” Ong said.
“Magkano ang sweldo ng vice-president? P200,000 lang eh bakit may gumagastos ng bilyon-bilyon? Ay naku, huwag na nating pag-usapan. Mga senador magkano ba ang sweldo? P100,000 meron silang P500 million, paano mababawi? So, yun talaga, ang daming problema,” Ong pointed out.
During their manifestation of support, Capt. Rene Modelo said they are supporting the candidacies of Mayor Isko and Doc Willie because they believe they are the right leaders who can support the plight of around 380,000 Filipino seafarers.
“Napansin sa mga presidentiables for the past two months na walang nagsasalita o napag-uusapan ang plight ng seafarers and seafarers po nung 2019 around 380,000 seafarers remitted P6.18 billion. Number 5 po kami sa nagbibigay sa coffers ng Pilipinas. So, naisipan ko na pumunta at magbigay suporta dahil si Mayor Isko po eh nag-aral din sa PMI, so pakiramdam namin kasama sya sa pagiging seafarers rin namin. Kaya sabi ko suportahan natin ang kanyang kandidatura,” Modelo said.
Modelo said one pressing matter that agencies within the government need to address is the negative findings of the European Maritime Safety Agency on the regulation and quality of Maritime Higher Education Institutions in the country.
“Alam nyo ba 30% ng supply sa buong mundo ng seafarers ay Pilipino? Eh yan kung 30% kaya natin kunin bakit di natin kunin 70%? Kung natutulungan kaming mga marino di lang P6.18 billion per year ang mare-remit namin. At kung mas mataas ang makuha namin sa 50% eh baka maging P12 billion yan.”
Modelo also thanked Doc Willie for the helpful tips he has been providing through his Facebook page and YouTube channel as this has greatly aided many seafarers to better take care of their health. They also admitted to being fans of his.
Meanwhile, Naty Guerrero of Jeep ni Isko/Yorme whose group supported the presidential bids of former President Joseph Estrada in 1998 and late actor Fernando Poe Jr., in 2004, said they are supporting Mayor Isko and Doc Willie’s presidential and vice-presidential bids because they know they can do many things for the country, particularly at a time we are still facing the Covid-19 pandemic and the unabated oil price hikes worsened by the Ukraine and Russia conflict.
“When Mayor Isko aired his intention to run, we decided to support the candidacy of Yorme and Doc Willie. Kailangan natin silang suportahan dahil anim na taon po pag nagkamali tayo, anim na taon na naman tayo babagsak. Sa laki po ng problema ng Pilipinas, yung pandemic po hindi pa rin tapos, ngayon may problema na naman tayo giyera between Ukraine and Russia. Sa dami po ng kandidato natin, wala pako ako naririnig kung ano ang gagawin pero si Mayor Bilis Kilos talaga, alam nya na kung ano ang gagawin nya,” Guerrero said.