MANILA – The Aksyon Demokratiko party on Tuesday called for a halt to the spread of disinformation and fake news following reports of supporters abandoning its standard-bearer, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
Party chair Ernest Ramel said it is a “sinister ploy” to make it appear that volunteers and party members are defecting to the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo.
“We see no end to these diabolical machinations aimed at weakening the political party of Mayor Isko,” Ramel said in a statement. “Enough with the disinformation. Let’s put a stop to a rehash of defections which is already tantamount to fake news.”
Ramel’s statement came two days after Domagoso asked for Robredo’s withdrawal from the presidential race during a press conference at a Makati City hotel.
On Monday, Domagoso said it was a dose of Robredo’s own medicine as her camp was persistent in asking him to back out since last year.
Rivals Senator Panfilo Lacson and former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales confirmed during the same press briefing that they, too, were asked to withdraw by the Robredo camp but did not ask the Vice President to do the same.
In an undated statement, former officials and members of Aksyon Demokratiko expressed their disappointment at Domagoso’s remarks against Robredo.
The letter posted on social media was signed by Kaye Ann Legaspi, vice president for youth, and John Erdie delos Santos, executive director, of Aksyon Demokratiko; Paul Andrei Roset, San Pablo City, Laguna candidate for councilor; and Rewin Eros Maghirang, Darren Gonzales, Jose Marco Terrado, Bryan Ezra Gonzales, and Kevin Mandrilla, all Isko Tayo Kabataan former members.
The group stated that while they commend the presidentiables for their resolve to continue with their bids, Domagoso’s call for Robredo to withdraw was unwelcome.
“It was clear that Moreno saw the press conference as an opportunity to retaliate against initial calls by Robredo's supporters for him to withdraw, which he refers to as a social injustice. But the good mayor from Manila should be reminded that Robredo herself never made that appeal,” the letter read.
Ramel said that it is obvious that the people behind the defection of of IM (Isko Moreno) volunteers are the same ones behind the recruitment of three Aksyon Demokratiko youth members and volunteers.
Ramel clarified that de Los Santos resigned from the party on April 2 and Legaspi in early March as announced on Facebook, and not because of the press conference.
He said he do not know some of the alleged Aksyon Demokratiko volunteers who defected to the Robredo camp. (PNA)
