Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president in the 2022 national elections on Monday, Oct. 4.
Domagoso arrived at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) filling venue at Sofitel Harbor Garden Tents in Pasay City before noon, along with his running mate vice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong.
The Manila mayor's filing of COC is in time with the feast day of St. Francis after whom he was named by his mother, the late Rosario "Nanay Chayong" Moreno, his campaign team earlier said in a statement.
It added Domagoso, who is known as a former rubbish collector who lived in the slums of Tondo, shared St. Francis’ “concern for the poor." "Concern for the poor is a central theme in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. After renouncing his wealthy life, St Francis lived as one of the poorest and lowest in society and worked as a day laborer. This was hard menial, low-paid work yet he never passed a collection plate nor asked the public for money," the team stated.
Domagoso officially announced his bid for presidency in the 2022 national elections last Sept. 22.
“Opo, lumaki akong busabos ngunit hindi ako naging bastos (Yes, I grew up poor but I was never vulgar or disrespectful). Another lesson I learned in my early life — poverty must not take humanity out of you,” the Manila mayor said during the launch of his presidential bid.
“I will be a healing president. I will welcome criticisms. I do not run on promises. I run on prototypes,” he said.
Domagoso's political career started in 1998 where he was elected as a city councilor of Manila. After serving three terms, he was elected vice mayor in 2007.
In 2016, he decided to run for the Senate but lost. He was then appointed by President Duterte as the chairman of the North Luzon Railways Corporation.
In 2019, Domagoso he was elected as Manila mayor.
The Manila mayor was praised for his major projects focused on clean-up campaign, housing for the poor, and building affordable hospitals as well as public schools in the country's capital.
Domagoso and Ong are running under the Aksyon Demokratiko political party.
The COC filing will run until Oct. 8.