Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso will not withdraw his presidential bid in the 2022 national elections.
Aksyon Demokratiko Chairman Ernest Ramel confirmed on Friday, Oct. 8, that Domagoso will not withdraw from the presidential race even after the hashtag #WithdrawIsko trended on Twitter, shortly after Vice President Leni Robredo declared she is also running for president on Thursday, Oct. 7.
"Why should Isko withdraw? Clearly, he is the more winnable and as much qualified to lead us out of this pandemic and the bad economic condition we are in," Ramel told the Manila Bulletin.
"He has a proven track record as an executive compared to the rest of the field," he added.
Domagoso was asked by the netizens to withdraw his bid and support Robredo instead.
The party chairman said it is "high time that we all focus on the sad plight of the Filipinos and our country." "If her supporters want to put their energies in divisiveness and hate against a candidate who is just asking for healing and unity then let them be," Romel said.
Robredo is seeking the presidency as an independent candidate but she remains as the chairperson of the Liberal Party.
"Why would a party chairperson abandon her own and file as an independent? It maybe a strategy but isn't that also fooling the voters? Why not embrace who you are and what you represent?," Ramel said.
"These are just the questions in my mind right now that I think majority of the voters are asking as well," he added.
Domagoso officially announced his bid for presidency in the upcoming elections last Sept. 22.
He filed his certificate of candidacy on Monday, Oct. 6.