The reelectionist Moreno, president of the local party Asenso Manileño, made the move following the announcement of his tandem with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim at the Bonifacio Shrine. The vice-mayor attended only the local proclamation and distanced himself from the declaration of support to Liberal Party’s national bets earlier.
“Iba at mabigat ang usaping pampanguluhan,” Moreno stressed, “Nakasalalay dito ang patutunguhan ng ating bayan at mamamayan. Naniniwala akong si Sen. Manny Villar ang nagtataglay ng katangi-tanging kakayanang mamuno, sapagkat alam niya ang pakiramdam ng kumakalam na sikmura ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan bilang nakaahon at nagtagumpay dito.”
The vice-mayor, like Villar, was born to poverty in the slums of Tondo, scavenging for food and livelihood until he became an actor and later on a political figure.
Moreno said Asenso Manileño will forge a formal alliance with NP, committing grassroots support in Manila for Villar.
Villar said, “We welcome Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno as a strong pillar and partner in our advocacy against poverty as our common roots.”
NP has reached its 2,000-membership mark for incumbent officials as more joined alongside the vice-mayor, including Parañaque first district Rep. Eduardo Zialcita, erstwhile Lakas-CMD deputy spokesman; Apayao Gov. Elias Bulut Sr.; Aurora Vice-Gov. Gerardo Noveras; vice-mayors from Luzon; and councilors from the National Capital Region.
The latest NP oathtakers at the Laurel House in Mandaluyong numbered over 200.
Governor Bulut, also from Lakas-Kampi-CMD, was a former Calanasan mayor before he served the Apayao people for nine years in the House of Representatives.
Known as the “Father of Apayao”, then Congressman Bulut was the one who fought for the separation of Kalinga-Apayao into two distinct provinces. In 1995, Republic Act 7878 formalized Apayao and Kalinga as two separate Philippine provinces. Apayao now has a voting population of more than 60,000.
The oathtakers followed in the footsteps of Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr., national chairman of the League of Provinces of the Philippines; Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Ace Barbers; Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas “Dodo” Cagas; Biliran Gov. Rogelio “Roger” Espina; Cagayan Vice-Governors Leonides “Odi” Fausto; Laguna Vice-Gov. Ramil Hernandez; Ilocos Norte Vice-Gov. Windell Chua; and Quirino Vice-Gov. Pasencia Bacani, who recently defected to NP.
Villar is also set to administer the oath to about 150 incumbent and aspiring leaders from Lanao.
