Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno runs for senator

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Manila Vice Mayor Francisco Domagoso, more popularly known as Isko Moreno, announced Friday morning, October 16, that he will run for senator in the 2016 polls.

Moreno’s camp organized a ceremonial launch of his senatorial bid at the Tondo High School, where the 3-term vice mayor studied as a teenager.

Senator and present presidential race front-runner Grace Poe and her running mate, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, appeared at the ceremony.

Both expressed support to the 40-year-old politician’s 2016 senatorial run, which for weeks, became the subject of speculation. 

Moreno had earlier resigned as Manila traffic czar, saying he intended to run in the upcoming polls but refusing to disclose for which position.

Moreno was met with a crowd of Manileños in white shirts bearing his campaign slogan, “Pursigido, Isko Moreno (Determined, Isko Moreno).”

Screens showing a live stream of the program in Tondo – notoriously known as a densely populated and poor area in the city – were strategically positioned for his supporters spread out in the area.

Filing of COC

Right after the program in Tondo, Moreno proceeded to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Intramuros to make his bid official. 

Moreno ran under the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino, the same party as his 2013 running mate, former president now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada.

He filed his certificate of candidacy at 12:30 pm on Friday. 

After his Comelec filing, Moreno introduced himself as a “certified dating basurero, dating sidecar boy (certified former garbage man, former sidecar driver)” born in Manila with 18 years of experience in local legislation.

Humble beginnings

In endorsing Moreno, Poe emphasized his humble beginnings. She said Moreno’s life story provides inspiration to many Filipinos living in poverty.

“Para sa akin, yan ang hinahanap ng ating mga kababayan – isang mapaghuhugutan ng inspirasyon na nakakaintindi sa kanilang mga pangangailangan,” she said.

(For me, that is what our fellowmen are looking for – someone to draw inspiration from and who understands their needs.)

She added that Moreno did not let his circumstances get in the way of his dreams. He instead used his experience as a drive to help others. 

Moreno was a 3-term Manila councilor prior to getting elected as vice mayor. He was a popular actor before transitioning to politics.

His city has been beset with perennial problems of vehicular congestion and flooding in major roads, vulnerable employment, and crime in extremely poor areas.

Moreno had cited the city-wide Manila truck ban and modified bus ban among the “drastic measures” he put in place to decongest Manila roads. He presided over the city council that passed the ordinances for these.

Moreno earlier touted as a result of “political will” the city’s modified bus ban, which disallowed city and provincial buses without terminals in Manila from traversing the city roads. – Rappler.com