FRANCISCO “Isko Moreno” Domagoso made a political comeback after being proclaimed as the newly elected mayor of the City of Manila on Tuesday, May 13.
Domagoso, who served as mayor from 2019 to 2022, won 560,338 votes, far ahead of incumbent mayor and former ally Honey Lacuna, who had 197,572 votes.
“I am grateful to each and every citizen of this city. With this type of mandate, I really owe it to you. I will do my best to be a better mayor of this city,” Domagoso said after his proclamation at Manila City Hall.
Winning alongside Domagoso was his running mate Chi Atienza, who won with 616,881 votes. She will replace Vice Mayor Yul Servo-Nieto.
Twenty-two councilors from Moreno’s Aksyon Demokratiko secured the majority of the city council, while four congressional seats in the city’s six districts will still be held by Lacuna’s Asenso Manileño.
“Maraming maraming salamat sa mga naglaan ng panahon, sa mga nag-alay ng kanilang lakas, talino at kakayahan sa pagsama sa ating kampanya. Buong kababaang loob nating tinatanggap ang kapasyahan ng higit na nakararami sa atin,” Lacuna said in a statement following her concession.
Both Lacuna and Tutok to Win party-list Rep. Samuel Verzosa conceded their bids a day after the unofficial election results showed Moreno’s wide lead in the election results.
Following his proclamation, Moreno urged supporters to move forward and be “magnanimous” in victory.
“Ang panawagan ko po sa inyong lahat na pahupain ninyo na ang damdamin ninyo. Huwag tayong mag-away-away. Let’s move on with our lives. We must work together, because together, we can make Manila great again,” he said in a Facebook statement on Wednesday morning.
In an interview following the partial results of the elections, Moreno said he was willing to talk with his rivals.
“At the end of the day, taga-Maynila sila e, ‘di ba? Magiging mamamayan ko rin sila. And as I have been doing and committed to do, sa Maynila pantay-pantay. They are still members of the community, we are willing to serve them,” Domagoso said.
Domagoso is set to assume office on June 30.
