Aksyon Demokratiko

Aksyon Demokratiko (, ), or simply Aksyon, is a political party in the Philippines founded by Raul Roco. It was recognized as a national political party in 1998 by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and is considered to be one of the major parties in the Philippines. Manila Mayor-elect Isko Moreno currently acts as president of the party.

History

1998 elections: Foundation of Aksyon

Senator Raul Roco resigned from LDP to form ''Aksyon Demokratiko'' for his plans for running in the 1998 presidential elections. He chose peace negotiator Irene Santiago as his vice-presidential candidate. However, both lost to then Vice President Joseph Estrada and then-Senator Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

2001 elections

Aksyon joined the People Power Coalition, with economist and former NEDA Director General Winnie Monsod as one of its senatorial candidates from Aksyon in 2001 senatorial elections. Monsod campaigned for IT-ready teachers, and solving Mindanao issues, but she lost the election.

2004 elections: Alyansa ng Pag-asa

In 2004, Roco sought the presidency for a second time with former Tarlac Congressman Hermie Aquino as his running-mate. They forged an alliance with Rene de Villa's Partido Reporma, and Lito Osmeña's PROMDI (both of them are Roco's opponent in 1998) to form their '' Alyansa ng Pag-asa'' slate (originally called as ''Alyansa ng Bayan'').

During their December 1 convention, Aksyon nominated 19 personalities for their senatorial ticket: Rene de Villa, de Villa's former running mate Oscar Orbos, Senator Rodolfo Biazon, former Transportation and Communications secretaries Josie Lichauco, former Pasay Congresswoman Lorna Verano-Yap, former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor, Police Chief Superintendent Romeo Maganto, former assemblyman Emil Ong, former solicitor general Frank Chavez, bowling champion Bong Coo, retired Gen. Rodolfo Gutang, Lanao del Sur Congressman Dimaporo Ramos, Sulu Congressman Arden Anni, Misamis Oriental Congressman Oscar Moreno, economist and their 2001 senatorial candidate Monsod, broadcasters Pia Cayetano, TV personality Jay Sonza and Melanio "Batas" Mauricio, and Christy Ramos, daughter of former President Fidel Ramos.

But their final senate slate was reduced to only seven candidates with Coo, Nicanor Gatmaytan Jr., Nueva Ecija politician Eduardo Nonato Joson, Mauricio, Sonza, and former bureaucrat Perfecto Yasay selected in the slate, with the inclusion of Chavez from Reporma. Former DOH official Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan served as campaign manager.

Roco performed second to third in pre-election surveys but he had needed to leave for the United States for prostate cancer treatment. Despite a decrease in support because of his recurring illness, Roco insisted that he will not resign from candidacy. Also, the party feared vote buying initiated by President Arroyo's Lakas–CMD.

Roco and the whole Alyansa lost the election, but he later called out Arroyo about her controversial election victory. In August 2005, Roco died at the age of 63.

2007 elections: Joining GO

Aksyon aligned with the Genuine Opposition (GO), the opposition against President Arroyo, Roco's former opponent in 2004 elections. Sonia Roco, Raul Roco's widow, ran for Senate in 2007 but lost.

2009: "Coalition for the Deserving"

In 2009, Aksyon joined a coalition formation with Reporma, and Kilusang Bagong Lipunan and called it "''Coalition for the Deserving''" in preparation for 2010 elections led by Efraim Genuino, member of Bigkis Pinoy Movement and PAGCOR chairman. But after the launch, then-Aksyon's Secretary General Jay Sonza and Reporma disowned the coalition, saying that party leaders were not consulted, as Bigkis Pinoy is raiding other political parties for still unknown reasons without their consultation.

2010 elections: Liberal Party's campaign

In 2010, the party signed a coalition agreement with the Liberal Party in order to jointly field then Senator Benigno Aquino III for president. Now-party Chairwoman Sonia Roco was added in the senatorial slate of Senator Aquino's campaign.

2016: Partido Galing at Puso

For the 2016 Philippine general election, the party fielded national and local candidates throughout the Philippines including lawyer Lorna Kapunan and TIEZA COO Mark Lapid. It was aligned with the candidacy of Grace Poe, with Kapunan tapped into Poe's Partido Galing at Puso. Aksyon also supported Poe' candicacy for president.

2019: Rise of Vico Sotto and Otso Diretso

The party's standard bearer for the 2019 senatorial elections was former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, who joined Otso Diretso. Prominent local government candidates of the party during the 2019 elections included Vico Sotto and Roman Romulo, who ran as mayor and representative of Pasig respectively, and Marielle del Rosario as representative of Navotas.

2022 elections and Isko Moreno's presidential run

Possible coalition with NPC

After the declaration of Ping Lacson and Tito Sotto for delcaring their campaign to run for president and vice president respectively, they discussed with Aksyon's top officials and Vico Sotto for possible coalition.

Bilis Kilos: Isko Moreno's presidential run

In 2021, Aksyon named then-Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, who just joined the party from the National Unity Party, as its new party president ahead of the 2022 Philippine presidential election. New notable party members that would follow included 2019 senatorial candidates Willie Ong, Samira Gutoc, Caloocan 2nd district representative Edgar Erice and former Vice President Noli de Castro. Ong was selected by Moreno as his running mate, with Gutoc, educator Carl Balita, and former ''Ipaglaban Mo!'' host Jopet Sison as its senatorial slate members. The nomination was skipped by Vico Sotto due to his commitments at city of Pasig. Moreno also launched his campaign tagline "''Bilis Kilos''" (Fast Action).

A number of party members expressed disappointment with Aksyon's choices during the 2022 election campaign. In October 2021, former Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial candidate Florin Hilbay resigned from Aksyon Demokratiko "out of ethical considerations," because he chose to support the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo instead of that of Domagoso, adding that "We can't afford another narcissistic, gas lighting troll for a president" but without specifically mentioning Domagoso by name. On April 2, 2022, former Aksyon executive director Erdie de los Santos also resigned to support Robredo rather than Domagoso. Olongapo City Councilor Kaye Ann Legaspi, Aksyon's former vice president for youth affairs, led a faction of about a hundred party members expressing disappointment over Domagoso's tactics and saying that he was "damaging" the values that the party's founder Raul Roco had represented.

Aksyon, led by its chairman Ernest Ramel, criticized the reports of media against Moreno, stating that its just a sinister attack and fabricating news about defection of supporters to Leni Robredo's camp. He also criticized Legaspi for releasing a letter about their defection with attacks on Moreno.

Despite criticisms Moreno faced from some former Aksyon members including resigned ones, Roco's family, including the party's chairwoman emerita Sonia Roco, and Bobbit Roco, her son and former party president sticked with Moreno's campaign.

Moreno, Ong, and some Aksyon members who ran in the senate all lost, but some in the grassroots level candidates like Ike Ponce (who won Mayorship of Pateros). In a thanksgiving party, Moreno stated that even they lost, he manifested that Aksyon can be feel "by the people for the next three years in their lives".

Vico Sotto's resignation

In June 2022, immediately after the 2022 elections, Executive Vice-President Vico Sotto resigned from the party, saying he believed "recent events have made it apparent that the party is now headed towards a different direction." However, Sotto did not announce the fact of his resignation until five months later, in November 2022.

2025 elections

Local elections

In July 2024, Duterte critic and former senator Sonny Trillanes joined the party to run for 2025 mayoral election in Caloocan, with the support from KiBam and Senator Risa Hontiveros. Also, party president Moreno was also fielded to return to his former position, the mayorship of Manila, against the incumbent Honey Lacuna, who left the party for Lakas. More new members were sworn into the party ahead of the 2025 elections, including Moreno's son Joaquin Domagoso, Mocha Uson (a key Duterte ally), former basketball player Paul Alvarez—who are running for councilor of Manila—as well as former Manila representatives Carlo Lopez and Amado Bagatsing. Moreno cited that the membership of Trillanes and Uson, as those politicians who did not want any fighting or feud like them are joining Aksyon.

Also, additional new party members include former congressman Paolo Javier who will run for governor of Antique, Barangay Baclaran chairman Jun Zaide who will seek the post of mayor of Paranaque, and former Batanes Governor Telesforo Castillejos who will run for his former post. The other new members hailed from Malabon City, Pasay City and the provinces of Isabela, Cagayan, Kalinga, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Romblon, Antique, Maguindanao del Sur, Rizal, Misamis Oriental, Zambales, Occidental Mindoro, La Union, Bohol, Tarlac, Laguna, Bulacan, and Basilan.

Aksyon won in Manila, as Moreno and Atienza, with the support from Vice President Sara Duterte, snapped victory, with 23 city councilors, and Joey Uy, who defeated the incumbent Benny Abante for 6th congressman district seat. Party chairman Ramel stated that these victories were a sign that the party will be more stronger to 2028 elections.

Also, in Antique, former Congressman Paolo Javier won as party's gubernatorial bet, with the congressional victories of Tim Cayton from Nueva Vizcaya, and Dibu Tuan from South Cotabato.

Senate elections

AGRI Partylist congressman Wilbert Lee joined Aksyon to run for senate elections in 2025 with the party's last election's vice presidential nominee Willie Ong, who is still undergoing treatment in Singapore. Ong was represented by his wife Dra. Liza Ong who also sworn in as member of Aksyon.

But on the start of the campaign season in February both Lee (February 10) and Ong (February 13) withdrawn their candidacy. Lee stated that he will not continue to campaign after meeting co-members at AGRI, and the lack of machinery, while Ong will focus on health recovery.

Ideology

''Magbago!'' (Change!) ''Makialam!'' (Participate!) ''Sulong sa Bagong Pilipinas!'' (Forward to a New Philippines!) are the party's slogans. Aksyon is rooted in Raul Roco's ''The Agenda of Hope'': honest government; opportunity for all, special privileges for none; peace, productivity and prosperity; education and environment for sustainable development.

Aksyon believes that there should be regional solutions to regional problems. Aksyon organizes itself based on the principles of local autonomy. It believes and pushes for the empowerment of the Filipino masses. The party advocates a 'bottom-up' approach in tackling the issues of the country. Aksyon recognizes the importance of the participation of youth in government and therefore actively pushes for the empowerment of the youth.

Election results

Presidential and vice presidential elections

Legislative elections

Local (Provincial, , and )

Notes

Current party officials

* Sonia Roco, Party co-founder, Chair Emeritus
* Ernest Ramel (former Aksyon Demokratiko's Secretary General), Party Chairman and National Executive Board Member
* Francisco Moreno Domagoso (Mayor-electd of City of Manila), Party President and National Executive Board Member
* vacant, Vice Chairperson and National Executive Board Member
* Leon Flores III (former National Youth Commission Chairperson), Secretary-General and National Executive Board Member
* vacant, Vice-President for Internal Affairs and National Executive Board Member
* Atty. Bobbit Roco, Vice-President for External Affairs and National Executive Board Member
* May Lim, Vice-President for Women Affairs
* Jayson San Juan, Deputy Secretary-General
* Michael Roy Cuerpo, Treasurer and National Executive Board Member
* Atty. Normandy Baldovino, Jr, General Counsel and National Executive Board Member
* Samira Gutoc, National Executive Board Member
*Antonio Aquino, National Executive Board Member
*Frein Jarane P. Castañeda (former Mariveles, Bataan Councilor), National Executive Board Member
*Danilo De Guzman (current Mandaluyong City Councilor), National Executive Board Member
*Atty. Ernesto C. Isip Jr. (current Manila City Councilor), National Executive Board Member
*Richard C. Ibay (former Manila City Councilor), National Executive Board Member
*Anthony P. Sanchez, National Executive Board Member
*Jose Cabochan, National Executive Board Member
*Sainthia Joy A. Sorilla (current New Lucena, Iloilo Councilor), National Executive Board Member
*Manuel M. Zarcal (former Manila City Councilor), National Executive Board Member

Membership

The following are the oath taken by new members:

Party leadership history

Party chairperson (chairman/chairwoman)

Party president

References

{{Philippine political parties

1997 establishments in the Philippines
Centrist parties in the Philippines
Political parties established in 1997
Progressive parties