Erap, Lim, Bagatsing seek Manila’s top post

MANILA, Philippines - It will be a three-cornered fight for the Manila mayor’s post in the 2016 elections.

Reelectionist Mayor Joseph Estrada is running against former mayor Alfredo Lim and Manila 5th District Rep. Amado Bagatsing.

Estrada said he would file his certificate of candidacy (COC) tomorrow with his running mate Sheila Honey Pangan, chief of the city’s social welfare development and daughter of former vice mayor Danny Lacuna.

Thirty-one incumbent Manila councilors have renewed their support for Estrada.

The councilors, belonging to the Lasenso Manilenyo political party headed by Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, took their oath before Estrada at the Manila City Hall.

Estrada said he wants to continue the programs that he started, including the modernization of the city’s public markets, renovation of the Manila Zoo and construction of school buildings and roads.

Bagatsing filed yesterday his COC for Manila mayor at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Arroceros.

Bagatsing has been criticizing Estrada’s leadership.

“I regret supporting Mayor Estrada in 2013,” Bagatsing told reporters.

He is running under the Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran Foundation with the battle cry “Ang Bagong Maynila.”

If he gets elected, Bagatsing vows to eliminate corruption at city hall and solve traffic woes in the city.

He said he would provide free education and scholarship grants as well as  jobs and livelihood projects to Manilans. 

Bagatsing’s running mate is Councilor Ali Atienza, son of former mayor Lito Atienza.

Manny Lopez is running for congressman of the 1st District while Carlo Lopez is seeking reelection as representative of the 2nd District.

Councilors Don Juan Bagatsing (4th District) and Sandy Ocampo (6th District) are seeking reelection.

Cristal Bagatsing is running for congressman of the 5th District to replace the older Bagatsing.

Lim will file his candidacy for mayor today at the Comelec office.

He is running under the administration Liberal Party (LP).

Lim said he decided to run again for mayor in response to the clamor of Manila residents to restore the delivery of basic services particularly in the six city-run hospitals, and to stop the increase in taxes implemented by the Estrada administration. 

If he wins, Lim vows to provide free health care to poor residents.

During his term, Lim put up additional public school buildings and the City College of Manila (now Universidad de Manila), which provides free college education to poor but deserving students in the city.

LP president Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya Jr. said Lim is a longtime ally who can best represent the party in the local elections in Manila.

“I signed his nomination and we believe in the capability of mayor Lim to continue President Aquino’s straight path,” Abaya said.