4-way race for mayor of Manila seen

MANILA, Philippines — A four-cornered fight for mayor of Manila looms in next year’s mid-term elections.

In an interview with The STAR yesterday, Mayor Joseph Estrada said he is ready to run against former senator Manuel Villar, former mayor Alfredo Lim and former vice mayor Isko Moreno.

“The more, the merrier. It’s OK. All of them are welcome to run for Manila mayor,” Estrada said.

Villar, Lim and Moreno are reportedly eyeing Manila’s mayoralty post, although Villar, who grew up in Tondo, has said he has no such plan. 

Lim lost to Estrada in the 2013 and 2016 elections.

Villar was defeated by former president Benigno Aquino III in the 2010 presidential elections.

Moreno ran for senator under the ticket of Sen. Grace Poe in 2016 but lost.

He was Estrada’s vice mayor in the 2013 elections.

Estrada said he would seek reelection to continue his programs for the city and its residents.