Presidential candidate and Manila mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso formally received the endorsement of a group that helped then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to win in the 2016 presidential elections.

Former Agrarian reform Secretary John Castricciones, president of the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC), handed over the group's Manifesto of Support to Domagoso during a press conference held at the Headquarters of the Isko Moreno Domagoso for President in Intramuros, Manila, on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022.

“The heirarchy of Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee has decided to truly support Mayor Isko Moreno,” Castricciones said.

“We are inclined to believe that because the MRRD-NECC has been faithful to the cause of President Duterte, I think he is the most qualified candidate that should be supported by the MRRD-NECC, and therefore should be endorse to be the next president of the Republic of the Philippines,” he said.

Domagoso, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude to the group for throwing their full support to his presidential bid.

“Today, I think, pinakamalaking suporta na nakuha ko ay manggagaling sa MRRD. Eh kasi nakapagpanalo na kayo ng Presidente eh, baka makadalawa. May awa ang Diyos, sa tulong ninyo, matulungan niyo rin kami na abutin (the greatest support I ever got will come from MRRD. Since you have already made the President win, maybe it can happen again. God has mercy, with your help, you can also help us to reach it),” the Manila mayor said.

“Gusto ko dumiretso kayo sa taong bayan, sa mamamayan, maipabatid yung mga mensahe natin, maipabatid yung mga pangarap natin sa ating mga kababayan na kung saan, I have committed to every Filipinos, 'yung pagkakapantay-pantay ng tao --- Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon, mahirap, middle-class, mayaman --- lahat pantay pantay sa harap ng inyong lingkod in terms of policies, programs, at services (I want you to reach out to the people to spread our messages, our dreams to our countrymen which, I have committed to every Filipino, that human equality — Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon, poor, middle-class, rich — all will be equal in terms of policies, programs, and services),” he added.

Domagoso also assured the MRRD-NECC that its ambitions and plans will be continued under his administration should he win the presidency.

“Bilang organisasyon na inyong tinulak, at binuo ninyo upang samahan si Pangulong Duterte, ay siya namang ating ipagpapatuloy (As an organization that you pushed, and formed to accompany President Duterte, we will continue to do so),” he said.

Domagoso said he was also hoping for the endorsement of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for his presidential bid.

“Like what Mayor Isko always says, he needs all the help he could get because these are Goliaths against a David fight. Coalition for the purposes of achieving the ultimate goal of securing victory is not out of the question,” Aksyon Demokratiko chairman Ernest Ramel said.

“However, said alignment should not be transactional in nature but reformist and progressive. As our standard bearer would always put it: Tao muna. Mamamayan muna,” he added.

Aside from the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program, Domagoso vowed that he will address poverty, hunger, unemployment, inequality, and social injustice in the country.

The MRRD-NECC is a big volunteer group that propelled President Rodrigo Duterte during the 2016 elections.