Team Atienza files bid

Candidates of the Liberal Party ticket in the country’s capital, headed by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, formally filed their certificates of candidacies (COCs) yesterday with the Commission on Election (Comelec).

Atienza, who is seeking his third and last term as city mayor, registered with his running mate Councilor Don Ramon Bagatsing.

Lawyer Maria Lea Alarkkon, registrar of District 5-Manila Comelec, received the COCs of Atienza and Bagatsing, who came with their wives, Evelina Atienza and Grace Bagatsing and a number of supporters who chanted "Atienza, Bagatsing."

Apart from Atienza, aspirants for the mayoralty post who filed their COCs were Eduardo Fernandez, Onofre Abad and Felix Cantal.

Bagatsing, on the other hand, will run against two other aspirants. They are Jaboy Odiamman and Major Buleg.

Atienza and Bagatsing were joined by 36 aspirants for councilors under the Buhayin Ang Maynila ticket when they filed their COCs at the Manila Comelec in Arroceros yesterday morning.

Atienza said their ticket — Buhayin ang Maynila — is a common ticket by LP and Lakas, the political party of President Arroyo.

He said the President is the best prepared candidate for the presidency, having served for three years after the ouster of jailed President Joseph Estrada.

In seeking his last term, Atienza said he intends to continue his urban renewal program for the city.

When asked why he chose Bagatsing to become his running mate, Atienza said the councilor is "the best of the crop" and has proven himself to be effective fiscalizer as minority leader in the city council.

LP congressional candidates for the Manila six districts are incumbent Rep. Ernesto Nieva (District 1); Marlon Lacson (District 2); Miles Roces (District 3), incumbent Rep. Rudy Bacani (District 4); Kim Atienza (District 5) and Sandy Ocampo (District 6).

Candidates for Manila’s District 1 are Marjun Isidro, Rolando Sy, Emily Monzon, Ernesto Dionisio, Irma Alfonso, Gonzalo Gonzales, all Liberal Party candidates; Moises Lim (independent); Alberto Domingo (Laban) and Arlene Koa (NPC).

For District 2: Pacifico Laxa, Adel Villa, Numero Lim, Edward Tan, Danny Varona, Ruben Buenaventura (all LP) and Jaime Balmas (independent).

For District 3: incumbent Bernardito Ang (Laban), Annie "Pipay" Silva, Letlet Zarcal, Ramon Morales, Alex Co, Maria Asuncio Fugoso, Jhosep Lopez (LP); Jovencio Tabon, Marietta Rivera and Ernesto Cruz (independent).

For District 4: incumbent Trisha Bonoan-David, Amy Tolentino, Vic Melendez, Joey Delada, Ma. Paz Herrera and Wardee Quintos (LP).

For District 5:Roger Gernale, Ricardo Isip, Juan Miguel Cuña, Cita Astals, Ric Ibay and Roberto Ortega (LP).

For District 6: Casimiro Sison, Beth Rivera, Patrick Ocampo, Greco Belgica, Jesus Crisologo, Bonjay Garcia (LP).