Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, who ran and lost in the 2019 midterm elections, has quit Aksyon Demokratiko that fielded Moreno as its presidential bet for the 2022 polls.

Hilbay, in a statement on Monday, disclosed his resignation from Aksyon Demokratiko and announced his "endorsement of the candidacy of [Vice President] Leni Robredo for President." 

"I am leaving Aksyon not to join another party, but out of ethical considerations. I respect the decision of my party to choose [Moreno] as a candidate for president, but I also believe VP Leni is a much better candidate in the most crucial of elections," Hilbay continued.

In the 2019 midterm elections, Hilbay was the party's standard bearer for the midterm polls. He was part of the opposition's Otso Diretso ticket that lost in the polls where administration allies dominated.

Hilbay also thanked Aksyon for accepting him their fold and supporting his candidacy in 2019.

But the former solicitor general said he believes Robredo is the leader that can confront the problems that beset the country, and not someone who will resort to publicity stunts to "manipulate Filipinos." 

He also said that Robredo "has been more presidentiable" than incumbent chief executive Rodrigo Duterte. "We do not need more of the same, or even less of the same. We can't afford another narcissistic, gaslighting troll for a president," he continued.

"We need a president who will show up, level with the people, and treat them not as objects to be subjugated but as fellow citizens and stakeholders in nation-building. We need a leader who will empower Filipinos, not kill them,"  Hilbay added.