MANILA – After only a term, Antiqueño Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is leaving the mayorship of the Philippine capital. He will pursue the presidency in the 2022 national elections.
Domagoso, whose father hails from Barangay Piape III in Hamtic, Antique, would run alongside Dr. Willie Ong. Their partnership will be formally introduced today in Tondo, Manila.
Domagoso was the third to declare his intention to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte, with senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao launching their bids earlier.
Domagoso’s throwing off of hat to the presidency did not come as a surprise; he has long been pushed by opposition and administration ally parties to run.
But the 46-year-old Domagoso chose to run under Aksyon Demokratiko, the party of the late senator and former Education secretary Raul Roco.
Domagoso released last night an advertisement that highlighted his “Cinderella story,” telling the public, “Ako kayo, hindi sumusuko” and featured the working class saying: “Ako si Isko” and “Tayo si Isko.”
Prior to entering politics, Domagoso was a popular host and actor.
As a politician, Domagoso served as councilor and vice mayor in Manila City under former mayors Alfredo Lim and Joseph Estrada. He also ran for senator in 2016 but lost.
Domagoso was also appointed as chairman of the board of the North Luzon Railways Corp., and undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development under the Duterte administration.
Should Domagoso win, he will be the second mayor to go straight to the presidency from mayorship aside from President Duterte in 2016, and the second with a movie star past, after Estrada in 1998./PN
