A mayor of the capital city of the Philippines declared Wednesday that he will run for president in the 2022 elections, with popular YouTuber doctor Willie Ong as his runningmate.
A former actor, Moreno is the latest aspirant in what is seen to be a highly-stacked race that includes a boxer-turned-senator vying to succeed the controversial President, Rodrigo Duterte.
Incumbent senator and boxing star Manny Pacquiao announced his candidacy Sunday, while Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former police chief, earlier declared his candidacy with Senate President Vicente Sotto, who is also a former showbiz personality, as his runningmate.
Moreno -- a child scavenger before joining Philippine showbiz then entering politics -- told The Associated Press ahead of his declaration that he would fight COVID-19 and poverty if he becomes president.
Moreno announced his presidential candidacy during a speech in a public school located in a slum area near where he grew up.
"My fellow Filipinos, Doc Willie and I cannot do this alone. We need you. Please help us. We need unity. Let's heal the country," Moreno said in quotes by Inquirer News.
Moreno said he selected a physician instead of a popular politician as his vice president runningmate so he could focus on the health crisis while he leads efforts to lift the economy if they win.
Health officials have reported more than 2.4 million COVID-19 infections with more than 37,000 fatalities in the Philippines -- the second-highest figure in Southeast Asia next to Indonesia.
Moreno's name has long been floated as a possible candidate for Philippine president considering his track record as mayor of Manila, which has earned the public's praise.
Moreno, 46, admitted he lacks an extensive educational background and doesn't come from an influential political clan.
This is Moreno's first time to vie for the highest public office in the country, but he said his plans for the nation will be hinged on projects he has spearheaded in the country's capital during his first term as mayor.
Moreno said he was pushed to run not by high political aspirations but by the miserable state of the country, as he criticized the Duterte administration's handling of the pandemic, including the lack of medicines to contain the virus.
According to a Pulse Asia poll released in July, Moreno was the second choice to become the Philippines' next commander in chief, trailing Duterte's daughter, incumbent Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
