Aksyon joined the People Power Coalition,[7] with economist and former NEDA Director General Winnie Monsod as one of its senatorial candidates from Aksyon. Monsod campaign for IT-ready teachers,[8] and solving Mindanao issues,[9] but she lost the election.[10]
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.[12]
But the final senate slate was reduced into only, seven with Coo,[13] 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.[14]
Ano ang inilalaban natin? Karangalan para sa Pilipino.
[What are we fighting for? Honor for the Filipino people.]
Roco performed second to third in pre-election surveys but needed to leave for the United States for prostate cancer treatment. Despite decrease of support because of his recurring illness, Roco insisted that he will not resign from candidacy.[14][15] Also, the party feared vote buying initiated by President Arroyo's Lakas–CMD.[16]
Roco and the whole Alyansa lost the election, but he later called out Arroyo about her controversial election victory.[17][18] In August 2005, Roco died at the age of 63.[5]
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.[20] 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.[21][22]
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.[23] Now-party Chairwoman Sonia Roco was added in the senatorial slate of Senator Aquino's campaign.[24]
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.[30][31]
A number of party members expressed disappointment with Aksyon's choices during the 2022 election campaign.[37][38] 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.[38] 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.[37][38]
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.[39]
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.[40]
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) won. 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".[41]
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.[42]
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,[50] and former Batanes Governor Telesforo Castillejos who will run for his former post.[51] The other new members hailed from Malabon City, Pasay City and the provinces of Isabela, Cagayan, Kalinga, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Romblon, Antique, Maguindanao Sur, Rizal, Misamis Oriental, Zambales, Occidental Mindoro, La Union, Bohol, Tarlac, Laguna, Bulacan, and Basilan.[50]
Senate elections
AGRI Partylist congressman Wilbert Lee joined Aksyon to run for senate elections in 2025[52][53] with the party's last election's vice presidential nominee Willie Ong, who is still undergoing treatment in Singapore.[54] Ong was represented by his wife Dra. Liza Ong who also sworn in as member of Aksyon.[55]
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.[12][56]
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.[12]
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:
Ako si (pangalan), mula sa (distrito / municipalidad / lungsod / probinsya), ay taimtim na nanunumpa bilang kasapi ng Aksyon Demokratiko. Buong loob kong isusulong ang mga prinsipyo ng Aksyon upang makamit ang isang progresibo, inklusibo, at masaganang bayan na may malinis at epektibong pamahalaan, nagmamalasakit sa bawat Pilipino. Patuloy akong maniniwala sa likas na galing, lakas, at pagkamalikhain ng Pilipino. Ako'y magiging lider na nagsusulong ng mga pagbabago, nagpapaginhawa sa aking kapwa, at makapagbigay-boses, at kaunlaran sa mga nangangailangan. Handa akong magmulat, mas handa akong umaksyon para sa demokrasya, para sa bayan. [Kasihan nawa ako ng Diyos.]
^Crisostomo, Sheila (February 11, 2004). "Roco prays for blessings". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
^ abCrisostomo, Sheila; Araneta, Sandy (April 29, 2004). "Roco not backing out of race". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.