Lapid sure to run for Makati mayor

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – There’s no stopping administration Sen. Lito Lapid from running for mayor of Makati City in next year’s polls.

Despite warning from critics that the move would be "political suicide," Lapid told The STAR that he’s "very sure to run for mayor of Makati."

Lapid, whose entry in politics was catapulted by his popularity as a movie action star, said that being mayor of Makati would be an easier job than being governor of Pampanga after the province was devastated by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 and by lahar flows that followed in the subsequent years.

"Makati has enough funds for its development," he said, recalling that when Pampanga was severely affected by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, he did not have enough funds to rebuild the province after the widespread devastation.

"Yet we were able to rise from the volcanic ashes and rebuilt our lives," Lapid said in Tagalog.

He also recalled that that during his term as governor, businessmen were lured into investing in Pampanga, despite continuing lahar threat, through tax holidays.

Lapid is known as a loyal ally and supporter of President Arroyo.

"I have nothing against (incumbent Mayor Jejomar) Binay, but he has been there 20 years. Perhaps the people of Makati want change or another Capampangan for their mayor just like Mayor Nemesio Yabut," he said. Yabut had been mayor of Makati until his death in 1986.

Binay is expected to run for a third and final term as Makati mayor.

Lapid entered politics in 1992 as vice governor of the late Pampanga governor Bren Guiao, whom he eventually defeated to become governor in 1995.     

He finished only high school at the St. Catherine Academy in his hometown in Porac, although in 1996 during his term as governor, he was given a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, honoris causa, by the Pampanga Agriculture College in Magalang, Pampanga.

Earlier Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Lapid would be committing "political suicide" if he challenges Binay in the 2007 election.

Pimentel urged him to back out of his plans, and claimed Lapid’s decision was only suggested by Mrs. Arroyo and the First Gentleman.

However, should Lapid lose his bid for the Makati mayorship, he is still a senator as his term will expire in 2010.