Atienza-Bagatsing in 2004
January 1, 2004 | 12:00am
It will be an Atienza-Bagatsing tandem for mayor and vice mayor of the country’s capital in the coming elections in May 2004.
A reliable source said Mayor Lito Atienza has announced that Councilor Don Ramon Bagatsing could be his running mate in his re-election bid during a caucus with councilors several days ago.
"A similar announcement was also made when the mayor met with them again at City Hall a day after the caucus with the councilors," the source told The STAR.
Atienza is the executive vice president of the Liberal Party (LP) while Bagatsing, from the city’s fourth district, is the chairman of the opposition party Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Laban) Manila chapter.
Atienza and Bagatsing are set to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Jan. 3, or two days before the deadline set by the poll body for the filing of COCs.
Atienza has indicated his intention to seek his third and last term as the mayor of the country’s capital.
On the other hand, Bagatsing, who is the City Council minority leader, is a second-term councilor, but has opted to seek a higher post this May.
Under the law, an individual can serve three consecutive terms, three years for each term in an elective post, including congressmen, mayors, vice mayors and councilors.
Although formal announcements have yet to be made, observers said former mayor Mel Lopez and Amado Bagatsing are planning to run for the city’s top post.
In the vice mayoralty race, Vice Mayor Danilo Lacuna has been vocal on his plans to finish his third and last term, just like Atienza.
Last May, Laban established coalition with LP. Bagatsing said Laban-LP would be unbeatable in the 2004 elections.
In supporting Atienza, Bagatsing said Laban has had a critical collaboration with the Atienza administration.
"The bipartisan support has benefited Manila residents," noted Bagatsing.
The united opposition is alive and well, at least in Makati City.
City Mayor Jejomar Binay, District Representatives Agapito "Butz" Aquino (Dist. 2) and Teodoro Locsin (Dist. 1) are all supporting different presidential candidates in the May 2004 elections but boast of a unified ticket in the local government scene.
Binay and incumbent Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado filed yesterday morning their certificates of candidacy (COCs) at the local Comelec office at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Malugay Street, accompanied by Aquino.
Binay and Mercado then went with Aquino to the Comelec main office in Intramuros where the congressman and Binay, president of PDP-Laban, supports action star Fernando Poe Jr.’s bid for the presidency while Aquino, secretary-general of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), is for Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson.
Journalist-turned-politician Locsin is said to be supporting President Arroyo.
"We agree that we are the opposition. We have two heads but one body," Aquino beamed.
"There is unity in diversity. . . Magkaiba man kami ng susuportahan (in the presidential race), we have one common enemy," Binay told reporters, apparently referring to the Arroyo administration and the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).
Binay said his PDP-Laban ticket is joined by members from the Liberal Party, Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, and the LDP.
Aquino also remained hopeful that the two factions of the opposition would also unite before the elections.
Binay, who has ruled Makati for nearly 20 years now, remained confident that he would handily win his third and last term as its local chief executive.
He said he considered former Vice Mayor Nemesio "Toro" Yabut as his closest rival, completely dismissing the mayoral bid of Councilor Oscar Ibay, of Lakas-CMD.
Binay was first appointed Makati officer-in-charge by then Pres. Corazon Aquino after the EDSA Revolution in 1986. He was elected mayor in 1988 and reelected in 1992 and 1995. He served as Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair in 1998 while his wife, Elenita, warmed the mayoral seat for him.
He was again elected mayor in 2001.
Binay and his ticket were met by ardent supporters outside the Comelec office, complete with a band playing popular songs.
The 16 candidates for councilors also filed their COCs yesterday, including Ibay’s brother, Pedro, Binay’s son Jejomar Erwin, and singer Rico J. Puno.
The others are: Israel Cruzado; Ferdinand Eusebio; Monique Lagdameo; Paquito Lichauco; Romeo Medina; Nelso Pasia; Romana Pangilinan; Liberato Siaron; Clias Tolentino; Ernesto Apillaga; Ricardo Javier; Divina Jacome; and Erlinda Gonzalez.
Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. filed the other day his COC for the congressional seat of the lone district of city.
Joined by supporters and partymates, Abalos said that as mayor he is leaving his constituents with sound economic, financial and educational foundations.
"The people of Mandaluyong have always been with me and it is this unified effort, cooperation and commitment that put our city to its enviable position today. I am confident that as I take the challenge to represent them in Congress, they will stand by me and keep the unwavering support they have bestowed on me as city mayor," Abalos said.
He served for two consecutive terms as city mayor and earned numerous awards during his stint, including the Outstanding City Mayor of the Philippines in the Local Government Leadership Awards (LGLA).
Under his stewarship, Mandaluyong’s income increased from P857 million in 1998 to P1.2 billion last year.
Abalos will run under the Lakas-CMD party and will be joined in the ticket by incumbent Rep. Neptali Gonzales Jr., who is eyeing the mayoralty seat and incumbent Vice Mayor Jesse Cruz.
In the lineup for city councilors (District 1) are Danilo de Guzman, Teresita Pillas, Luisito Espinosa, Epifanio de Guzman, Jonathan Abalos, Gerardo Pe, (District 2) Denver Apacionado, Edward Bartolome, Noel Bernardo, Roberto Francisco, Cherrylyn Santos and Renato Sta. Maria.
For the top post in Muntinlupa, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi goes up against a sister of Las Piñas Mayor Vergel Aguilar, while incumbent Rep. Rufino Rozzano "Ruffy" Biazon squares off with a brother of rebel leader Alex Boncayao for the lone congressional seat.
Fresnedi, who is eyeing his third term as mayor, submitted his COC last Tuesday a day after his rival, Elizabeth Masangkay.
This is the third time that the 59-year-old Masangkay, a businesswoman and CPA, would be running against Fresnedi.
The 53-year-old Fresnedi said he is ready to go against her one more time. "I firmly believe that my constituents would judge me based on my performance, on what I have accomplished in the last six years as local chief executive."
Other members of "Team Fresnedi" namely Vice Mayor Jo Jason Alcaraz, 11 incumbent councilors of the two districts, and five aspiring councilors also filed their respective COC under the political party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD).
Patricio Boncayao Jr., a three-term councilor (District 1), who is running for Congress, also filed his COC. He is the younger brother of slain New People’s Army (NPA) rebel leader Alex Boncayao. He will challenge Biazon for the lone congressional seat in Muntinlupa.
"Yes, there will be a very good fight between me and Congressman Biazon," he said. — With Nikko Dizon, Non Alquitran, Evelyn Macairan
A reliable source said Mayor Lito Atienza has announced that Councilor Don Ramon Bagatsing could be his running mate in his re-election bid during a caucus with councilors several days ago.
"A similar announcement was also made when the mayor met with them again at City Hall a day after the caucus with the councilors," the source told The STAR.
Atienza is the executive vice president of the Liberal Party (LP) while Bagatsing, from the city’s fourth district, is the chairman of the opposition party Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Laban) Manila chapter.
Atienza and Bagatsing are set to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Jan. 3, or two days before the deadline set by the poll body for the filing of COCs.
Atienza has indicated his intention to seek his third and last term as the mayor of the country’s capital.
On the other hand, Bagatsing, who is the City Council minority leader, is a second-term councilor, but has opted to seek a higher post this May.
Under the law, an individual can serve three consecutive terms, three years for each term in an elective post, including congressmen, mayors, vice mayors and councilors.
Although formal announcements have yet to be made, observers said former mayor Mel Lopez and Amado Bagatsing are planning to run for the city’s top post.
In the vice mayoralty race, Vice Mayor Danilo Lacuna has been vocal on his plans to finish his third and last term, just like Atienza.
Last May, Laban established coalition with LP. Bagatsing said Laban-LP would be unbeatable in the 2004 elections.
In supporting Atienza, Bagatsing said Laban has had a critical collaboration with the Atienza administration.
"The bipartisan support has benefited Manila residents," noted Bagatsing.
City Mayor Jejomar Binay, District Representatives Agapito "Butz" Aquino (Dist. 2) and Teodoro Locsin (Dist. 1) are all supporting different presidential candidates in the May 2004 elections but boast of a unified ticket in the local government scene.
Binay and incumbent Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado filed yesterday morning their certificates of candidacy (COCs) at the local Comelec office at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Malugay Street, accompanied by Aquino.
Binay and Mercado then went with Aquino to the Comelec main office in Intramuros where the congressman and Binay, president of PDP-Laban, supports action star Fernando Poe Jr.’s bid for the presidency while Aquino, secretary-general of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), is for Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson.
Journalist-turned-politician Locsin is said to be supporting President Arroyo.
"We agree that we are the opposition. We have two heads but one body," Aquino beamed.
"There is unity in diversity. . . Magkaiba man kami ng susuportahan (in the presidential race), we have one common enemy," Binay told reporters, apparently referring to the Arroyo administration and the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).
Binay said his PDP-Laban ticket is joined by members from the Liberal Party, Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, and the LDP.
Aquino also remained hopeful that the two factions of the opposition would also unite before the elections.
Binay, who has ruled Makati for nearly 20 years now, remained confident that he would handily win his third and last term as its local chief executive.
He said he considered former Vice Mayor Nemesio "Toro" Yabut as his closest rival, completely dismissing the mayoral bid of Councilor Oscar Ibay, of Lakas-CMD.
Binay was first appointed Makati officer-in-charge by then Pres. Corazon Aquino after the EDSA Revolution in 1986. He was elected mayor in 1988 and reelected in 1992 and 1995. He served as Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair in 1998 while his wife, Elenita, warmed the mayoral seat for him.
He was again elected mayor in 2001.
Binay and his ticket were met by ardent supporters outside the Comelec office, complete with a band playing popular songs.
The 16 candidates for councilors also filed their COCs yesterday, including Ibay’s brother, Pedro, Binay’s son Jejomar Erwin, and singer Rico J. Puno.
The others are: Israel Cruzado; Ferdinand Eusebio; Monique Lagdameo; Paquito Lichauco; Romeo Medina; Nelso Pasia; Romana Pangilinan; Liberato Siaron; Clias Tolentino; Ernesto Apillaga; Ricardo Javier; Divina Jacome; and Erlinda Gonzalez.
Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. filed the other day his COC for the congressional seat of the lone district of city.
Joined by supporters and partymates, Abalos said that as mayor he is leaving his constituents with sound economic, financial and educational foundations.
"The people of Mandaluyong have always been with me and it is this unified effort, cooperation and commitment that put our city to its enviable position today. I am confident that as I take the challenge to represent them in Congress, they will stand by me and keep the unwavering support they have bestowed on me as city mayor," Abalos said.
He served for two consecutive terms as city mayor and earned numerous awards during his stint, including the Outstanding City Mayor of the Philippines in the Local Government Leadership Awards (LGLA).
Under his stewarship, Mandaluyong’s income increased from P857 million in 1998 to P1.2 billion last year.
Abalos will run under the Lakas-CMD party and will be joined in the ticket by incumbent Rep. Neptali Gonzales Jr., who is eyeing the mayoralty seat and incumbent Vice Mayor Jesse Cruz.
In the lineup for city councilors (District 1) are Danilo de Guzman, Teresita Pillas, Luisito Espinosa, Epifanio de Guzman, Jonathan Abalos, Gerardo Pe, (District 2) Denver Apacionado, Edward Bartolome, Noel Bernardo, Roberto Francisco, Cherrylyn Santos and Renato Sta. Maria.
Fresnedi, who is eyeing his third term as mayor, submitted his COC last Tuesday a day after his rival, Elizabeth Masangkay.
This is the third time that the 59-year-old Masangkay, a businesswoman and CPA, would be running against Fresnedi.
The 53-year-old Fresnedi said he is ready to go against her one more time. "I firmly believe that my constituents would judge me based on my performance, on what I have accomplished in the last six years as local chief executive."
Other members of "Team Fresnedi" namely Vice Mayor Jo Jason Alcaraz, 11 incumbent councilors of the two districts, and five aspiring councilors also filed their respective COC under the political party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD).
Patricio Boncayao Jr., a three-term councilor (District 1), who is running for Congress, also filed his COC. He is the younger brother of slain New People’s Army (NPA) rebel leader Alex Boncayao. He will challenge Biazon for the lone congressional seat in Muntinlupa.
"Yes, there will be a very good fight between me and Congressman Biazon," he said. — With Nikko Dizon, Non Alquitran, Evelyn Macairan
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