The Aksyon Demokratiko party on Tuesday, April 19, called for a stop in “rehash of defections”, following the press statement earlier issued by its several former party officials and volunteers, who chided Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso for calling for the withdrawal of presidential rival Vice President Leni Robredo from the elections.
Aksyon Demokratiko Chairman Ernest Ramel, in a statement, said the former officials “made it appear that they are newly-resigned from Aksyon and the reason was their being ‘turned off’” by the joint press conference attended by Domagoso on Sunday, April 17.
“Enough with the disinformation. Let’s put a stop to a rehash of defections which is already tantamount to fake news,” Ramel said.
Ramel said these officials and members openly announced their support for Robredo even before the Easter Sunday press conference took place.
He pointed out that Erdie de los Santos, former Aksyon executive director, had resigned from the party since last April 2.
As for Olongapo City Councilor Kaye Anne Legaspi, former vice president for youth affairs, Ramel said she also resigned from the party as early as March.
“I suspect there is someone big behind this sinister ploy that makes it appear that more volunteers and party members are defecting to the camp of VP Leni. And we see no end to this diabolical machinations aimed at weakening the political party of Mayor Isko,” Ramel said.
The party chairman added it is obvious that those behind the defection of five convenors of IM volunteer group are the same ones behind the recruitment of the three youth members of Aksyon and other youth volunteers.
Ramel, meanwhile, maintained there are still thousands of youth volunteers who are working hard in campaigning for Domagoso’s presidential bid.