Manila bets end campaign today

MANILA, Philippines - Three of the top mayoral candidates in Manila will end their campaign today after three weeks of sorties.

The official campaign period started on March 26 and will end tonight as the three leading candidates, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, former environment secretary Lito Atienza and former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon will wrap up their campaign activities.

Atienza together with former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, presidential candidate of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), will attend a thanksgiving mass at the Quiapo Church at 8 a.m.

They will then lead a grand motorcade at 9 a.m., stop over in Tambunting, Katuparan, Paradise Heights, Temporary Housing, Parola and finish in Baseco, Tondo. There will be an assembly of Atienza’s supporters at the Carlos Palanca street near the Quiapo Church.

The Buhayin ang Maynila team, led by Atienza and Estrada, will hold its miting de avance at Plaza Hernandez in front of the Sto. Nino Church in Tondo starting at 6 p.m.

On the other hand, Razon’s campaign has been on “overdrive,” according to former councilor Ernesto Dionisio, head of his political team.

He said Razon has ramped up his daily campaign schedule, averaging six house-to-house sorties and town-hall meetings each day. Dionisio said Razon’s day starts at 5 a.m. and usually ends at about 2 a.m. the next day.

Dionisio said Razon’s campaign volunteers have also been organizing their own sorties and caucuses. Razon’s Manilenyo Para Sa Pagbabago (Manilans for Change) campaign teams, which are deployed daily in all of the city’s six districts, are already operating on three shifts.

Razon’s camp said the former PNP chief wrapped up his campaign yesterday with a motorcade.

Lim, meanwhile, attended a motorcade in Sampaloc and Pandacan yesterday, where thousands of Manila voters have vowed their support during the May 10 elections in Manila.