Aksyon Demokratiko elects Isko Moreno as new party president ahead of Eleksyon 2022

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso will sit as Aksyon Demokratiko president ahead of the 2022 national and local elections.

In a statement on Thursday, the party announced that its  members have elected Moreno as its new president during its general membership meeting held Tuesday night.

The meeting was attended by its incumbent officers including, Aksyon Demokratiko co-founder Sonia Roco and party executive vice president, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.

Ernest Ramel, who was also elected as the party’s new chairman, said Aksyon Demokratiko and Moreno had a “meeting of minds and hearts” in various aspects.

“We agreed on the COVID-19 response then to providing jobs and livelihood at these times. We also agreed on the rule of law, focusing on education, housing, and health care. Aksyon is proud that Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso was elected Party President,” Ramel said.

He added that they saw in Moreno “someone with a clean track record, tangible accomplishments, and a vision that the party shares. We are confident that he will be able to help lead the party in its thrust to be a unifying force in an atmosphere of heavy political polarization.”

Ramel was elected as the new chairman of the party after the position was vacated due to the passing of former Tarlac Representative Herminio Aquino last July 31.

In the same statement, Moreno welcomed the party members’ decision to elect him as the president of the party.

“Nagkaroon kami ng maraming pagpupulong bago nila ako tinanggap at masaya ako na maraming alignments sa nais naming isulong sa Asenso Manileno, ang aking napapabilangang lokal na partido,” he said.

(We had several meeting before they accepted me and I am glad that many of their advocacies are aligned with my local party, Asenso Manileno.)

Moreno said they would prioritize the programs for the minimum basic needs, specifically, the projects on housing, job creation, food security, education, and health.

The Manila mayor joined the party on August 5 even though he had to cancel his oath taking ceremony due to a sudden concern aboutCOVID-19 vaccination in the city.

Moreno earlier explained that his latest political move was intended to avoid any problems with his former party, the National Unity Party (NUP), ahead of the 2022 elections.

Apart from Moreno and Ramel, the party members also elected the following:

• Vice Chairperson: Concepcion, Tarlac Mayor Andres Lacson
• Secretary-General: former National Youth Commission Chairperson Leon Flores III.
• Vice-President for Internal Affairs: Manila City Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna
• Vice-President for External Affairs: Atty. Bobbit Roco
• Vice-President for Women: May Lim
• Vice-President for Youth: Councilor Kaye Ann Legaspi
• Deputy Secretary-General: Jayson San Juan
• Treasurer: Michael Roy Cuerpo
• General Counsel: Atty. Normandy Baldovino, Jr
• Executive Director: John Erdie delos Santos

Mayor Sotto has retained his post as the party’s executive vice president.

Aksyon Demokratiko is a political party founded by the late Senator Raul Roco in 1997. It has already submitted its Sworn Information Update Statement to the Commission on Elections on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Ramel said Aksyon Demokratiko will announce its official candidates for the 2022 national and local elections by September.

He said the party will be supporting Moreno should he decide to run for president.

Moreno ranked second to third in the last Pulse Asia pre-election survey on possible 2022 presidential bets, which was topped by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte. --KBK, GMA News