The 2022 presidential campaign of Isko Moreno began on September 22, 2021, when Isko Moreno announced his intention to run for the presidency in the 2022 Philippine presidential election. Isko Moreno has served as the mayor of Manila, the country's capital city, from June 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022.
Moreno ran on a platform highlighting his track record in Manila and promising to replicate his 3-year achievements as first-termed mayor on a national scale. His economic platform covers health, housing, education, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, livelihood, digital transformation, good governance, and "smart governance". He also vowed to lower utility expenses and continue certain policies of then incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte such as infrastructure development and the campaign against illegal drugs while maintaining adherence to human rights.
Moreno lost the election by a wide margin, ultimately placing fourth out of ten candidates with 1,933,909 votes. Moreno later conceded to then presumptive president-elect Bongbong Marcos a day after the election. Had Moreno been elected, he would have been the second president from Manila and the third mayor to run for the presidency and win. His campaign has been observed to have been affected by his lack of political machinery, minimal media coverage, and insufficient counter to overwhelming disinformation against him.
Background
Francisco Moreno Domagoso, more popularly known as Isko Moreno, started his career in the entertainment industry. Born and raised in the slums of Tondo, Manila, Isko Moreno first gained popularity as a cast member of the variety show That's Entertainment during the 1990s. In 1998, he entered politics at age 23 when he was elected as councilor, the youngest elected councilor in Manila's history at the time, for the 1st district of Manila and served for three consecutive terms. In 2007, he ran and was elected vice mayor of Manila under former mayor Alfredo Lim from 2007 to 2013 and Joseph Estrada from 2013 to 2016. He ran for a Senate seat in 2016 but was defeated. He returned to the political limelight in 2019 following his election as mayor of Manila, defeating Joseph Estrada, the then-incumbent mayor. Moreno is the youngest elected vice mayor and mayor in the history of Manila.
Campaign Announcement
Isko Moreno was reportedly to take his oath as a member of Aksyon Demokratiko, the party founded by Senator Raul Roco, in September 2021. This was after he resigned from the National Unity Party. However, this did not happen as an unexpectedly large number of people turned up on vaccination sites, particularly in Manila. Moreno was subsequently elected party president a week later. He later announced his presidential bid on September 22 with Dr. Willie Ong as his running mate. They filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) on October 4.
According to Ong in an interview with Boy Abunda in April 2022, there was a supposed backdoor "unity talk" among Moreno, incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo and other aspirants before the filing of candidacy. The initial plan was for these camps to form a united front to avoid vote splitting against former senator Bongbong Marcos who also hinted to run for presidency, but the scheduled meeting did not push through. Moreno's camp initially believed that they came to an agreement with Robredo that Moreno would be the opposition standard bearer with Robredo supporting his bid. However, Robredo also announced her candidacy weeks later after Moreno's announcement, much to Moreno's surprise. Initially a frontrunner, Moreno's numbers in opinion polls noticeably dwindled following Robredo's announcement.
Moreno had expressed intention to retire in politics should he fail to get elected as president and would rather spend quality time with his family.
Official candidacy names as listed on the official ballot from the Commission on Elections #3. DOMAGOSO, ISKO MORENO #6. ONG, DOC WILLIE
Key officials Lito Banayo, who previously served as the campaign managers of presidents Benigno Aquino III and Rodrigo Duterte during their respective presidential bids, was appointed as Moreno's campaign manager. Former Bases Conversion and Development Authority chairperson Vince Dizon was also initially reported to be part of Moreno's campaign team as deputy campaign manager, although this was later denied by Dizon. On October 13, 2022, it was announced that Moreno's long-time aide and chief of staff Cesar Chavez, a former Department of Transportation undersecretary and known ally of political bigwigs, amicably resigned from his post after he was offered a promotion from his previous job at DZRH and due to health concerns despite rumors of "infighting" between Banayo's team and Moreno's long-time supporters including Chavez. It was alleged that ever since Banayo's team came in, he and his team eased out Chavez and other long-time supporters in key meetings that led to Chavez resigning. However, the rumor was later denied by Chavez himself.
Running mate
According to Banayo, Grace Poe was their first choice as Moreno's running mate but Poe refused to run against Tito Sotto whom she has close familial ties with. Willie Ong, a cardiologist and media personality with large following, would later be selected as Moreno's running mate. Ong left Lakas–CMD a day later after his announcement to run for vice president. He joined Moreno's political party, Aksyon Demokratiko, on September 25.
Branding
Moreno's main campaign colors are white and blue. The campaign's supporters adopted the moniker Iskonians and Iskolars, a wordplay on the word "scholars".
Moreno also popularized the hand gesture "2 joints" wherein one has to place one's thumb, forefinger, and middle finger together while the rest of the fingers are up in the air. In youth culture, the hand gesture is associated with cannabis smoking. Moreno however defended that the hand gestures were meant to indicate the letters "Y" and "O", which stands for "Yorme" (means "mayor" in Tagalog street slang, as well as Moreno's moniker) and "Ong", respectively, signifying his partnership with Willie Ong. The gesture originated when a young adult shouted the words "2 joints" and flashed the hand gesture at Moreno during one of their campaign sorties in Mindanao, to which Moreno responded by flashing back the gesture. The video of Moreno flashing the hand gesture became viral and popular, thus, the gesture was later used in his campaigns. The song Ganon Paren To by hip-hop artist Bugoy na Koykoy, who first popularized the term "2 joints" in the Philippines, was later used in Moreno's campaign rallies after securing permission.
Other songs used in Moreno's rallies include the modified version of the song Posible sung by Jimmy Antiporda (originally composed by Rico Blanco), Sige Lang by Quest, (Dying Inside) To Hold You by Timmy Thomas, and the songs Nais Ko by Smugglaz and Bassilyo, Ang Nais Ko'y Ikaw by Jimmy Bondoc, and Isigaw Mo, Isko by hip-hop artist YoungOne featuring Mickrophone, which were made specifically for the campaign. Supporters of Moreno also use the "God first" sign wherein the index finger is pointing upwards, a hand gesture associated with Moreno's Asenso Manileño local party.
Moreno described his campaign as populist and centrist, emphasizing his rags-to-riches story. He positioned himself as an "alternative candidate", portraying survey frontrunners Bongbong Marcos and Leni Robredo as embodiments of elitist politics that has excluded alternative candidates like him. Moreno capitalized on his 23 years in public service and track record as mayor as a response to critics saying he is "in a rush to be president". He further asserted that the issues in the country should be addressed "in a rush" as well in order to adapt to fast-changing times and that being young can be an advantage for the presidency, especially in the time of crisis where fast-moving developments call for energetic and quick leadership. Moreno also prided himself as the only candidate who acts and gets things done swiftly, citing his universally acclaimed accomplishments as mayor in just three years time on his first term. He considered himself as an "underdog" in the presidential race against the Marcos and Robredo camps who he called as political giants who have been dominating the political landscape in the country for years.
Rallies
On October 24, 2021, Moreno's supporters held a "blue wave caravan," which was joined by about 1,000 motorcycle riders and 100 vehicles. On November 15, 2021, Moreno held another motorcade in Metro Manila and Cebu. Organizers estimated about 5,000 motorcycle riders and 500 cars joined the event in Metro Manila and 500 participants in Cebu. Moreno's official campaign website was later launched on November 25, 2021, during a virtual meet-and-greet.
On February 8, 2022, Isko Moreno held his proclamation rally at the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Manila. He was joined by his running mate Ong and Aksyon's senatorial slate.
On February 20, 2022, Moreno started his campaign in Mindanao, beginning in the region of Bangsamoro. Campaign events in the region notably featured local officials pushing for a Moreno and Sara Duterte (ISSA) tandem. As a result, Ong was absent from the campaign activities, a decision that was made by their campaign manager Banayo stating that it might be "embarrassing" for Ong to go there due to the support for Duterte. Moreno's camp eventually distanced themselves from the purported tandem, affirming their support for Ong.
Moreno is the first candidate to meet with Bangsamoro Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim who welcomed him as an "incoming president" during a courtesy call As a result, this was reported as a sign that Ebrahim has endorsed Moreno's campaign. Ebrahim's party and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front later clarified that the Bangsamoro regional government has yet to formally endorse any candidate and that the "warm welcome" for Moreno was not tantamount to an endorsement. Ebrahim eventually endorsed Leni Robredo and Sara Duterte as president and vice president respectively.