With Duterte's support, Isko Moreno can beat Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Centrist Manila mayor a potential unifier in a highly polarized environment

Richard Heydarian

December 10, 2021 17:00 JST

20211208 Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso.jpg

Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, pictured on July 15: Moreno is a natural populist who can seamlessly communicate across socio-economic divides as well as social media platforms. © Getty Images

Richard Heydarian is an Asia-based academic, columnist and author of "The Rise of Duterte: A Populist Revolt Against Elite Democracy" and the "The Indo-Pacific: Trump, China and the New Struggle for Global Mastery."

In the latest plot twist in Philippine politics, President Rodrigo Duterte's longtime consiglieri Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go has dropped out of the race to become the next president.