Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Wednesday formally announced his presidential bid for the 2022 national elections.
Moreno’s running mate is Dr. Willie Ong, 57, a cardiologist and internist with over 16 million Facebook followers. He ran for a senatorial seat in 2019 but lost.
In his speech, Moreno brought up his past experiences as a scavenger in Tondo where he grew up and experienced discrimination. Despite growing up poor, he learned not to discriminate against others, but instead be respectful.
"Lumaki akong busabos pero hindi ako naging bastos. Bagamat balot ako ng dumi sa katawan, ni minsan hindi ko kailangang sabunin ang aking bibig," Moreno said in his speech at the BASECO Compound in Tondo, Manila.
[I grew up poor but never once I became rude. My body may have been filled with dirt, but not once did I have to brush my mouth.]
In July, Moreno was criticized by President Rodrigo Duterte for the long lines at vaccination sites which led to him being belittled by the latter for his sexy photos in the past.
According to Moreno, he has no political clan despite being a public servant for 23 years.
"I don't belong to a large clan. I am neither son or daughter of a president. Hindi n'yo makikita sa pera ang mukha ng aking walang perang mga ninuno [You won't see the faces of my moneyless ancestors in moneys]," he said.
"No avenues named after them. Kahit na eskinita o waiting shed wala silang pangalang Domagoso [Even streets or waiting shed there's nothing named after Domagoso]. Lone ranger po ang apelido ko [my surname]. Nag-iisang Domagoso sa [The only Domagoso] government directory," he added.
Moreno is one of the personalities poised to run for president next year. He also ranked well in previous presidential surveys.
Last month, the Manila mayor was elected as the president of Aksyon Demokratiko wherein he vowed to prioritize the programs for the minimum basic needs, specifically, the projects on housing, job creation, food security, education, and health.
In the same speech, Moreno said he will be a healing president who will build a government of "national reconciliation."
"Hindi ko po isisisi sa nakaraan ang problema na ating kakaharapin," said Moreno.
[I will never blame the past for the problems we will be facing.]
"I will welcome criticism because the value in listening to complaints is they lead to better policies and services," he added.
Moreno's leadership has been put in the spotlight amid the COVID-19 pandemic as he was one of the local chief executives who personally became on the ground to check on the vaccination drives, lockdowns, testing, and contact tracing efforts in the country's capital city.
