AKSYON Demokratiko vice-presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong admitted Monday he was “hurt” by being asked to skip his running mate Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso’s first sortie in Mindanao, as the latter’s campaign team said it was the bailiwick of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, one of the cardiologist’s rivals.
“Siyempre na-hurt ako, ‘di ba? Masakit ‘yun. Pero hindi ko na iniisip eh. Bahala na ‘yung tao. [Of course, I was hurt. That’s painful. But I choose not to think about it. The people can decide],” Ong said in a statement.
At the same time, the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats welcomed Monday the support from political groups for the candidacy of its vice presidential candidate Duterte-Carpio, who has gone through political rallies in northern Philippines and Metro Manila.
But the group stressed: “We do not condone, however, efforts of certain groups to pair Mayor Inday Sara with other [residential candidates. Lakas-CMD has entered into an alliance with the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas for the May 2022 elections, and we are committed to honor it.”
The Lakas-CMD emphasized that “our candidate for President is Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.”
Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer Domagoso and the party’s three senatorial candidates joined a motorcade and attended a jampacked sortie in Maguindanao, organized by the camp of Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, a key Moro politician expected to command votes in the Bangsamoro region.
Several groups, especially from Mindanao, have committed to backing Domagoso’s presidential bid, but are rooting for Duterte-Carpio, Aksyon Demokratiko chairman Ernest Ramel said in a recent press conference.
The party’s caravan, again without Ong, then proceeded to Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato One Cebu, the ruling party in the Philippines’ most vote-rich province, has endorsed President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter for vice president and is considering endorsing Domagoso for president.
Aksyon’s allies in several areas have their own reasons, but the party stands by its candidates, Ramel said when asked why the party was seemingly abandoning the 58-year-old Ong in several campaigns.
Ong said he did not bring up the issue with Domagoso, adding he saw no reason in harboring resentment towards other politicians.
Ong said: “I don’t think about it anymore. Let the people do what they want, I did not do anything wrong. I’ll just do it straight.
“I’ll play it straight because that’s what the mayor asked of me so I want to show you and everyone that I am loyal.”
While his presence has been limited in Cebu and Mindanao events, Ong has been a steady presence in Domagoso’s motorcades in Luzon.
Ong, a popular health vlogger who has 16 million followers on Facebook, would also deliver speeches in several sorties, where he underscores how his medical background can help aid the Philippine health care system during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I don’t have funds, I don’t have the name… I am really at a disadvantage but I have no choice,” he said, noting that he had refused to accept campaign donations from several camps to maintain his no-strings-attached policy.
Domagoso earlier denied he was abandoning his campaign with Ong as several local politicians continue to pair him with Duterte-Carpio for the May 9, 2022 elections.
“Isko-Doc Willie ako. Period,” he told ABS-CBN News in a text message.
In a statement, the Lakas-CMD said “we extend our fraternal greetings to all political groups that have come out in the open to express their support to our Vice Presidential candidate, Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte.
“Your dedicated service to the Vice Presidential campaign of Mayor Inday Sara truly warms our heart, and inspires all of us to work harder in order to secure an overwhelming victory for our candidate.”
The group also reiterated its support to senatorial candidates under the BBM-Sara UniTeam slate.
“We also stand firmly united behind all senatorial candidates included in the UniTeam slate,” the Lakas-CMD said.
“Let us all embrace the call for unity which the BBM-Sara Uniteam help promote in their conversations with our people throughout the campaign period,” the group added.
