2-cornered fight seen for Caloocan's top post

MANILA, Philippines - The battle for Caloocan City’s top post is brewing between incumbent Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri and former District 2 congressman Luis “Baby” Asistio.

Echiverri filed his certificate of candidacy yesterday for his third and last term as mayor before the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office on A. Mabini street, but Asistio has yet to say when he will file his COC. The filing period ends on Dec. 1.

Echiverri, accompanied by his running mate, former congressman Egay Erice, and hundreds of supporters, expressed confidence that their political team will score its third “landslide victory” in next year’s elections.

Echiverri will run under the banner of the Liberal Party, whose standard-bearer is Sen. Benigno Aquino III. Erice, who was LP city chair when he ran but lost to Echiverri – who was then with Lakas – in the 2004 mayoralty race, said he has allied with Echiverri to continue the reforms he has initiated and push for Caloocan’s progress.

Before Echiverri and Erice filed their COCs, supporters attended a thanksgiving Mass in Morning Breeze, where Erice resides. The service was followed by a motorcade going to the local Comelec office.

Vice Mayor Luis “Tito” Varela is to run for congressman in District 1, and filed his COC at the Comelec’s main office in Manila last Thursday.

But former mayor Reynaldo Malonzo, Asistio’s running mate, promised Echiverri a “hard and exciting” political fight, banking on the “power and performance” of his team.

Malonzo is running under the local party Katipunan ng Bagong Caloocan and is allied with two incumbent lawmakers, District 1 Rep. Oscar Malapitan and District 2 Rep. Mitch Cajayon.

Malonzo said Asistio will run under the Partido ng Masang Pilipino party of former President Joseph Estrada while Malapitan would run under the Nacionalista Party of another presidential bet, Sen. Manny Villar.

Malonzo said he will file his COC on Dec. 1.

Cajayon remains with Lakas and has no known challenger yet as of yesterday. Echiverri’s “Recom Team” is still looking for a congressional contender in District 2 but already has a complete slate for the city council.

The members of Echiverri’s ticket are District 2 Councilors Chito Abel and Marjorie Barretto, businessman Tino Bagus, pro-environment architect Allen Aruelo, barangay chairwoman Carol Cunanan and engineer Andy Divina.

Incumbent Councilors Nora Nubla, Susan Punzalan and Ramon Te; barangay chairman Obet Cruz and former barangay chairman Andy Mabagos complete the lineup for District 1 councilors.

Echiverri said his team’s platform is anchored on quality education, economic reforms, infrastructure development and peace and order.