Joey not backing Alma

Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez said yesterday he would not support his estranged wife, actress Alma Moreno, in her bid to succeed him in the 2004 elections.

"I’ll support someone competent, experienced, and credible," Marquez told The STAR in a phone interview. He later said Moreno was not in the list of names that would merit his endorsement.

Marquez is on his third and final term as city mayor and has confirmed his plan to run for a congressional seat next year.

Moreno, on the other hand, said she wants to fill the vacancy next year.

But Marquez said he had long discouraged his estranged wife from joining politics.

"When we were still living together, I told her that she should have experience first at the grassroots level," Marquez said.

Marquez reminded Moreno that politics is more than just "waving (to admirers), making pathways, and helping indigents."

"She should understand things like a city’s economic activities and peace and order (situation)," he said.

Marquez and Moreno had a bitter separation last year that culminated in the former’s filing of annulment of their marriage before the court.

Meanwhile, the mayor said the bill dividing Parañaque into two districts has been approved by Congress.

He said he is confident that the bill’s approval would be announced by August.

Marquez said he and incumbent Parañaque Rep. Eduardo Zialcita are "good friends" who would be discussing political plans as a consequence of the bill.

"We will talk about people we plan to support in the coming elections. But it’s definitely not Ness," Marquez said, referring to Moreno, whose real name is Vanessa Lacsamana.– Nikko Dizon