Civic leader Sumira Gutoc and entrepreneur Carl Balita shared the reasons why they joined Aksyon Demokratiko’s senatorial slate for the 2022 national elections.
Gutoc said her decision to join Aksyon came after a "deepest prayer”.
"Maybe there’s a second chance for you Sam. Because ako ay COVID survivor, ako ay war survivor, ako ay recovery crisis worker, baka may maiambag ako sa crisis ngayon (Because I am a COVID survivor, a war survivor, a recovery crisis worker, maybe I can contribute to solve the crisis that we are facing now)," Gutoc said during the oath-taking ceremony of new party members at Hidden Garden in Lawton, Manila on Monday.
She formally accepted the party’s nomination to join its senatorial ticket during the national convention on Monday afternoon.
Gutoc was a senatorial candidate under Otso Diretso party in the 2019 elections but failed to win.
Carl Balita, on the other hand, is a radio personality who also announced his candidacy for senator under Aksyon Demokratiko.
Balita said he decided to run for senator under Mayor Isko’s party because he wanted "fast action" in handling the problems of the country.
Balita is a registered nurse and midwife, and a licensed teacher.
"Hindi ko na po kayang ipikit ang mata ko sa panawagan ng medical health frontliners na kung saan kasapi ako... Sa panawagan ng mga MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) frontliners... At sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng edukasyon (I can't close my eyes to the call of the medical health frontliners which I'm part of..The call of the MSME frontliners..And the current situation of the education system)," he said.
Balita said that when Domagoso asked him to run for senator under Aksyon, he considered it as an opportunity for him to help the Filipinos. (Lemuel Baruela)