Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso will run for Philippine president in 2022 with Dr. Willie Ong as hice vice president, he told media outfits on Tuesday.
According to reports, Domagoso will officially announce his presidential bid on Wednesday, Sept. 22.
Referred to as “Yorme,” a metathesis of “mayor,” Domagoso has climbed the ranks of popular Filipino politicians with his cleanups of the metro and distinct speaking style.
In a July 2021 Pulse Asia survey, Domagoso was the second most preferred candidate for both president and vice president.
Domagoso was only second to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who has distanced herself from the presidency and reportedly would seek reelection in Davao, and President Rodrigo Duterte, who has announced his vice presidential bid.
Domagoso became Manila mayor in 2019 after defeating former mayors Joseph Estrada and Alfredo Lim.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Domagoso has been a critic of government policies, most notably Duterte’s face shield requirement.
Ong, on the other hand, is well-known on social media for his medicine and health tips.
Ong lost in the 2019 senatorial elections but was the second most preferred candidate by overseas Filipinos. John Ezekiel J. Hirro