Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay on Monday, Oct. 18, has resigned from Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso's Aksyon Demokratiko to support the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.
"I write to announce my resignation from Aksyon Demokratiko and my endorsement of the candidacy of VP Leni Robredo for President," he said in a statement.
Hilbay added he resigned from Aksyon Demokratiko to publicly support Robredo.
"I am leaving Aksyon not to join another party, but out of ethical considerations. I respect the decision of my party to choose Mayor Isko Moreno as candidate for president, but also believe VP Leni is a much better candidate in this most crucial of elections," he said.
Hilbay pointed out that the country needs "a president who will confront problems not with publicity stunts to manipulate Filipinos but with honest-to-goodness attempts at solutions."
"We tackle issues of immense importance at local and global levels—poverty-inducing systemic inequality, massive debt, corruption, the destruction of institutions, accountability for EJKs, Chinese interference, climate change, a broken financial system, imperilled mass media, fake news, surveillance capitalism, impending war," he noted.
"We do not need more of the same, or even less of the same. We can’t afford another narcissistic, gaslighting troll for a president," Hilbay added.
The lawyer also stressed that the country cannot afford to have another "absentee leader."
"A candidate who wakes up only during campaigns is no leader, and we can’t have another absentee president," he said.
"We need a president who will show up, level with the people, and treat them not as objects to be subjugated but as fellow citizens and stakeholders in nation-building. We need a leader who will empower Filipinos, not kill them," he said.
Hilbay said he decided to endorse Robredo as she has been more presidential than President Duterte as she is continuously working with a limited budget, helping citizens alongside fellow citizens, informing the public on important issues, “all the while showing remarkable grace and grit while dealing with disrespect, propaganda, and fake news from Duterte and his minions.”
"She is a president who understands why the Marcoses are a current threat; she will hold Duterte and his cronies accountable for their crimes; she will stand up to China and not see the West Philippine Sea as merely for sale. She will continue to be honest, open-minded, transparent, and one with the citizens. She will respect her office and the Constitution."
Hilbay, meanwhile, thanked the members of Aksyon Demokratiko for accepting him and supporting his candidacy for Senate in 2019, saying they have his "utmost regard and respect."
Robredo filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for presidency on Oct. 7, while Domagoso filed his COC on October 4.