Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso will join the presidential race in the upcoming 2022 national elections, Manila Public Information Office (MPIO) chief Julius Leonen confirmed on Tuesday (Sept. 21).
Leonen also confirmed through a text message that the city mayor’s running mate will be Dr. Willie Ong. The formal announcement of their presidential and vice presidential bids is set on Wednesday morning (Sept. 22).
Domagoso recently joined the Aksyon Demokratiko party and eventually became its president before his announcement today. He became Manila mayor in 2019 after defeating former President Joseph Estrada in the polls.
Ong is an internist and cardiologist with around 16 million followers on Facebook where he regularly provides free medical advice. He joined the senatorial race in 2019 and placed 18th with over seven million votes.
Aside from the Domagoso-Ong tandem, Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III have also announced their presidential and vice presidential bids.
Senator Manny Pacquiao also accepted the nomination of his faction at the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to run for president.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who belongs to the other wing of PDP-Laban, also accepted his nomination last month to run for the country’s second highest position. – Report from Patrick de Jesus/AG- jlo
