Thousands of politicians defecting to Isko’s party

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of politicians have crossed over to Aksyon Demokratiko, which is now led by presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, a party official said last Friday.

“We had 4,000 more or less candidates jumping ship from different political parties nationwide,” Aksyon Chairman Ernest Ramel told ‘The Chiefs’ on Cignal’s One News.

Ramel described the exodus of politicians as a “huge jump” to their party, which was not seen in the run-up to the elections in 2016 and 2019.

He said there were more candidates “from different provinces, from different cities” aspiring “to be adopted by the party despite not having been able to file under our umbrella.”

“They want to be adopted because they believe in the party’s principles and believe in what Mayor Isko stands for,” he added.

If Aksyon pulls off the big win in 2022, Ramel said the party would push for political reforms and amend certain provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

On building a senatorial line-up, the party official said it could be expected to be “exclusive to a certain degree.”

“We’d rather have a line-up that is more exclusive (to the party),” Ramel said.

Nevertheless, he said “the door is open” to other candidates for as long as they are “aligned with our party’s principles and platforms.”

“Of course you must have a very good working relationship or good chemistry with the standard-bearer (Moreno),” he said.

So far, Aksyon is fielding only three senatorial candidates: Marawi native and civic leader Samira Gutoc, businessman and broadcaster Carl Balita and lawyer and television host Jopet Sison.