MANILA—Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso began his official bid for the presidency on Tuesday with the battlecry, “Tunay na solusyon. Mabilis na aksyon.”

As he was joined by more than a thousand supporters at Kartilya ng Katipunan, Moreno vowed to find ways to improve the life and livelihood of the Filipinos should he win the presidency.

He made this pledge during the Aksyon Demokratiko proclamation rally in Manila, along with other promises meant to give solutions to the country’s problems on health, housing and education.

“Habang tayo’y nandito ngayon, may mga kababayan tayong hindi kumain kanina, may mga taong namomroblema na bukas mapuputulan na ng kuryente, may mga namomroblema kung bukas kasya pa ang pera niya pamasahe bukas sa trabaho. Hindi naman ako manghuhula, pero marahil dinanas ko ’yun, kaya alam ko,” Moreno said in his speech.

“Wala akong masamang intensyon. Kayo na ang humusga. Hindi naman ito tungkol sa amin, kundi tungkol ito sa inyo . . . Kapag ako ang nanalo, bahay, kabuhayan, kalusugan, trabaho, kapanatagan at pantay-pantay na Pilipino sa buong bansa. ’Yun ang singilin niyo sa akin,” he added.

Moreno positioned himself between the Marcoses and the Aquinos anew.

He stressed why the public should back his presidency, and not two of his rivals in the race. Moreno was referring to Vice-President Leni Robredo and former senator Bongbong Marcos, explaining they would only seek vengeance against the Marcos and Duterte families.

“Wala tayong babanggitin kundi facts. Twenty-one years ng pamumuno ng pamilya Marcos. Maaaring may magagandang bagay na idinulot sa atin. Maaari rin namang may mga bagay na ikinalungkot natin at mga bagay na mahapdi sa ating damdamin. Whether naging mabuti o hindi mabuti, hindi ako ang huhusga niyan, kayo na ang humusga. I’m just stating facts. Doon tayo sa kabilang banda, ang nagtatagisang pamilya. Anim na taon, dating Pangulong Cory Aquino; 6 na taon din, dating Pangulong Noynoy Aquino,” the Manila mayor said.

“Sa panahon ng mga pula, 21 years. Ang mga dilaw at pink — straightforward lang tayo — 18 taon nila in total. 21+18? 39 years... Binigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon. Ang tanong: After 39 years, kumusta po kayo? Kung pagod na kayo sa kanilang dalawa, nandito po ako. Maiba naman. Tutal nagbakasakali na kayo ng 39 years eh. Ano ba naman ang magbakasakali kayo sa akin ng 6 years?”

Moreno shared the stage with running mate Dr. Willie Ong, who laid out his plans to find the right and safe drug against COVID-19 and other common illnesses should he win in the May elections.

“Bakit tayo tumatakbo? Naaawa tayo sa mga kababayan nating may sakit, walang pera . . . Lalo na ngayong nangyaring COVID-19 pandemic,” Ong said.

He continued: “Sabi sa akin ni Mayor Isko, ‘Sa ibang panahon, Doc Willie, hindi ikaw ang tamang kandidato. Pero sa panahon ngayon, No. 1 na problema natin ang COVID-19 na talagang nagpalubog sa atin, ikaw ang tamang kandidato’.”

The tandem was joined by senatorial candidates Jopet Sison, Carl Balita and Samira Gutoc.

“We are going to use the power of the people and bring it back to the people dahil tayo ay kailangan na ng bagong kinabukasan with the freedom, development and necessary Filipino honor we all deserve,” Gutoc said.

Sison added: “Kailangan natin ng tunay na pagbabago. ’Pag kayo ay nag-iisip sino ang iboboto, tingnan ang nagawa. Kapag may nagawa, may nanalo na. Panalo na ang susunod nating pangulo—Isko Moreno Domagoso.”

“Tatlo ang krisis na dala ng pandemya — kalusugan, karunungan, kabuhayan. Iyan ang dahilan bakit nasa harapan ninyo ang kauna-unahan nurse-midwife na tumakbo bilang senador sa kasaysayan ng republika,” Balita, for his part, said.

Cebu 3rd District Representative Pablo John “PJ” Garcia, Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano, Pateros Mayor Ike Ponce and Caloocan Rep. Egay Erice were also in attendance at the proclamation rally to throw their support for Moreno and his slate.

In the next 90 days of the official campaign for national candidates, Moreno, Ong and their senatorial slate will once again go around the country to woo voters.