Metro

San Juan, Caloocan mayors seek reelection

The Philippine Star

October 15, 2015 | 10:00am

MANILA, Philippines - San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez and Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan, both seeking reelection, filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) yesterday.

Gomez, who is eyeing a third term, filed her COC to formalize her showdown with Vice Mayor Francis Zamora in the 2016 elections.

Gomez, her running mate Janella Ejercito and congressional bet Janah Ejercito of the Partido Magdiwang arrived at the local office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at about 10 a.m.

Janella is a daughter of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, while Janah is a cousin of Jinggoy and Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.

The trio, dubbed “Girl Power” will be up against Zamora, his father Rep. Ronaldo Zamora and vice mayoral bet Totoy Bernardo of the Nacionalista Party, or “Boy Power.”

Meanwhile, Malapitan met his supporters at the San Roque Cathedral at around 8 a.m. before he proceeded to the Comelec office on A. Mabini street to file his COC.

Malapitan, a member of the United Nationalist Alliance, was accompanied by his political allies from the Liberal Party (LP) led by second district Rep. Edgar Erice and son Councilor Gonzalo Dale, and members of the Partido ng Masamang Pilipino of Vice Mayor Macario Asistio III.

The three parties merged two weeks ago to form the Tao ang Una Party and solidify their position against their rival, District 2 Rep. Enrico Echeverri, who is making a bid to regain his post as mayor.

Oreta vs Lacson in Malabon

Another showdown looms in Malabon as Rep. Veronica-Jaye Lacson announced on Wednesday her bid to challenge incumbent Mayor Antolin Oreta III.

Lacson, accompanied by her husband, former An Waray party-list representative Florencio Noel, filed her COC yesterday afternoon.

Absent during the occasion is Nationalist People’s Coalition’s Ricky Sandoval ,who is going to challenge former senator Tessie Aquino Oreta for the lone congressional seat, and wife Jeannie who will try to retain her position as vice mayor.

Atienza’s son files COC

In Manila, Councilor Arnold “Ali” Atienza filed his COC yesterday for the vice mayoral post. He was accompanied by Rep. Amado Bagatsing, who is running for mayor. Both are running under the local party, Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran or Kabaka.

Atienza is the son of former Manila mayor and now Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza.

Aside from Bagatsing and Estrada, former mayor Alfredo Lim is also seeking the mayoral post. Lim’s running mate is District 1 Rep. Atong Asilo.

Ex-lawmaker seeks Pasay mayoral post

Former Pasay congressman Lito Roxas filed his COC yesterday for the city’s top post. He was accompanied by his running mate, incumbent Vice Mayor Marlon Pesebre, to the local Comelec office.

Roxas of UNA was the third candidate to file his COC.

On Monday, businessman Jorge del Rosario filed his COC to challenge Mayor Antonino Calixto, who is seeking reelection.

Star-studded QC

In Quezon City, actor and former party-list representative Johnny Revilla yesterday filed his COC for a seat in the city council as an independent candidate.

Revilla, 60, opted for a local position after he was not picked to represent the OFW Family Club party-list.

Another actor, Dan Alvaro, will try his luck anew as he filed his COC for the same post yesterday afternoon.

Alvaro, 57, who lost in the 2013 elections, is running under the Buklod Party.

Gian Sotto, son of Sen. Tito Sotto, filed his COC for his last and third term as councilor of the QC’s third district in Quezon City. He was accompanied by his wife, Joy Marie Woolbright, and some supporters.

Gian’s sister, Lala, filed her COC on Wednesday.

Irene Belmonte filed her COC, seeking to replace her husband, Councilor Vincent Belmonte, of District 4.Vincent clarified he is not forcing his wife to replace him, saying the residents in their district want her to run.