Former Manila City Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso vowed to restore Manila’s glory when he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on the last day of filing to reclaim the city’s top post.
Moreno, who continues to lead the OCTA survey for the 2025 mayoralty race in Manila by as much as 86 percent compared to incumbent Manila mayor Honey Lacuna’s eight percent, served the City of Manila as mayor from 2019 to 2022.
His running mate is Chi Atienza, daughter of former Manila mayor and former Buhay Party-list representative Lito Atienza. The two will campaign under Aksyon Demokratiko, where Moreno currently serves as president.
In filing his candidacy, Moreno told his supporters to support him in making Manila great again. “I am heeding your calls, I am running as mayor in the next elections,” he said.
The actor-politician also accompanied his eldest son, Joaquin Domagoso in filing his own COC. The younger Domagoso is seeking a seat as councilor in Manila’s first district.
Moreno, who will face Mayor Lacuna—his former ally and running mate in the 2019 elections—said he wanted to have a peaceful rivalry. He told the incumbent mayor “peace be with you” after Lacuna reportedly told him “don’t come back” when he informed her of his plans to return to local politics.
A survey conducted by OCTA Research said that Moreno would win Manila’s mayoral race against Lacuna if the elections were held from July 8 to 10.
Moreno said he was pushed by the calls of people who were telling him to return as Manila City’s mayor. Should he be elected once again, he said he would focus first on an in-city vertical housing program by donating three 20-story residences.
Lacuna, who filed her COC on Thursday, will be seeking re-election with Vice Mayor Yul Servo-Nieto under the local party Asenso Manileño. She earlier said she felt “betrayed” as it was clear to the party that Moreno will be retiring in politics after losing in the 2022 presidential election.
Moreno assured them that they would never be rivals, according to her.
Despite the tension between both parties, the first female mayor of the city assured that she would avoid engaging in mudslinging and only speak the truth.
Aside from Moreno and Lacuna, Tutok To Win Party-list Representative Sam Verzosa will also be gunning for the same post for the upcoming elections.
