Mayoral showdown: Abby, Junjun Binay face off

MANILA, Philippines — It’s official: Makati Mayor Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” Binay will run against her brother, Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr., in the 2019 mayoralty race.

Abby filed yesterday her certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor accompanied by her father, former vice president Jejomar Binay, with the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office.  

“Let’s just say I am supporting Abby,” the elder Binay told reporters.

Abby and her runningmate Monique Lagdameo are running under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) chaired by the former vice president.

Among those running under Abby’s slate are reelectionist Councilor Jhong Hilario Jr. and lawyer Rebo Saguisag, son of former senator Rene Saguisag.

“Nakakataba ng puso na nandito ang aking ama. We are thankful for his support to our ticket,” Abby said.

Earlier, the former vice president said he would let the people of Makati choose between Abby and Junjun.

Junjun claimed that he has the backing of UNA.

He may not be UNA’s official candidate, but he can count on the support of the party’s leaders to reclaim the mayoralty post, according to UNA secretary general JV Bautista.

“Like the councilors and barangay captains who have expressed their support for Junjun, we believe that he is the best person for the job,” Bautista said.

Junjun was joined by his other sister Sen. Nancy Binay; younger sister Anne; Benjamin Martinez, chief of staff of the former vice president; former Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes, and Bautista when he filed his COC on Tuesday.

Last week, 13 of the city’s 16 councilors and 21 of 33 barangay captains declared their support for Junjun’s mayoral comeback.

“Hindi rin madali kasi siyempre may dalawang kandidatong Binay. We have both served as mayor, so it is natural for our supporters to compare our leadership styles. What we can try to emphasize is to exert all effort to make all discourse as civil as possible,” Junjun said.

His runningmate is First District Rep. Monsour del Rosario. Also running under Junjun’s slate are reelectonist Councilors Ma. Arlene Ortega, Rico Puno, Evelyn Delfina Villamor, Leonardo Magpantay, Shirley Aspillaga and Grazielle Iony De Lara-Bes.

‘Team Legacy’

Former mayor Alfredo Lim and Mayor Joseph Estrada file their certificates of candidacy yesterday. At right,Francis Zamora filed his COC for San Juan mayor. ERNIE PEÑAREDONDO, MICHAEL VARCAS

In Manila, Mayor Joseph Estrada and his runningmate former congressman Amado Bagatsing are expecting a landslide victory for their “Team Legacy” in the 2019 elections.

Estrada and Bagatsing yesterday filed their COCs with the Comelec office in Arroceros.

Estrada expressed confidence that they are ahead of their opponents.

“Landslide. We are not nervous at all,” he said.

He was accompanied by his wife former senator Loi Ejercito and daughters Jackie and Jerika Ejercito, who is running for Fourth District councilor.

Estrada along with Bagatsing and their supporters walked from the city hall to the Comelec office to show to the public that “I’m still fit and healthy.”

Estrada expressed confidence that he would win the mayoral race for the third time.

Isko Moreno, who is also running for mayor, earlier advised Estrada to retire from politics.

“He should know the word ‘enough.’ But be that as it may, let’s just wait for the people of Manila to decide in 2019. I wish him well and good health,” Moreno said in a statement.

Former mayor Alfredo Lim filed his COC to reclaim the mayoral post.

Lim is the official candidate of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

He was accompanied by his wife Gemma, children and chief of staff Ric de Guzman.

Reelectionist Rep. Manny Lopez (right) of the First District of Manila files his COC at the Comelec office in Intramuros yesterday. With him are his wife, Suzette, and brother Alex Lopez, who is running for congressman of the Second District of Manila. EDD GUMBAN

Running for councilor under Lim’s ticket are Nino de la Cruz and Roland Sy.

Celebrities running for councilor in Manila are Sheryl Cruz, Lou Veloso and Charee Pineda.

Fifth District Councilor Robert Ortega decided not to seek reelection to give way to his wife Charry.

Old faces, newcomers

In San Juan, former vice mayor Francis Zamora filed his COC for mayor under the ruling party PDP-Laban.

He was joined by his father, reelectionist Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.

The younger Zamora seeks to end the 49-year rule of the Estradas in San Juan.

“The people of San Juan are clamoring for change,” he said.

He served as councilor for three years and vice mayor for six years.

“My performance as a public servant is what I’m offering to the people of San Juan. My father and I have kept our names clean. We have never been involved in corruption,” he said.

In Muntinlupa, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi will slug it out with a newcomer in the 2019 elections.

Fresnedi is seeking reelection against Marc Red Mariñas, who resigned as deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration.

Fresnedi and his runningmate former vice mayor Artemio Simundac submitted their COCs with the local Comelec office in Barangay Alabang.

They underwent drug testing at the Ospital ng Maynila along with their candidates for councilors.

Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon is also seeking reelection against former mayor Aldrin San Pedro.

In Navotas City, Rep. Toby Tiangco filed his COC for mayor in a bid to replace his brother, Mayor John Rey Tiango who is running for congressman.

Toby will be up against Councilor Dan Israel Ang.

In Malabon, Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval is pitted against reelectionist Mayor Antolin Oreta III. 

Three-way race

In Pasay, former Manila chief prosecutor Edward Togonon is challenging the mayoral bids of two prominent political clans in the city.

Togonon and his runningmate lawyer Bong Tebelin filed their COCs under the PDP-Laban with the local Comelec office.

Togonon is running for mayor against Rep. Imelda Calixto-Rubiano and Cesar Cuneta, son of former mayor Pablo Cuneta and brother of actress Sharon Cuneta.

Star-studded

In Parañaque, Mayor Edwin Olivarez and Vice Mayor Jose Enrico Golez, son of the late congressman and national security adviser Roilo Golez, filed their COCs yesterday.

Olivarez and Golez, who are running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition and the PDP-Laban, are seeking their last terms.

 Several celebrities have signified their intent to run for different posts in the city.

Among them are reelectionist Councilors Vandolf Lacsamana Quizon, son of the late actor Dolphy and actress Alma Moreno; Jomari Yllana; Regina Pamintuan Yllana, wife of Councilor Ryan Yllana; Allen Ford Lee Tan, husband of Councilor and singer Roselle Nava, and Viktor Erico Marco Sotto.

Former mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. and Jeremy Marquez, son of former mayor Joey Marquez, filed their COCs for mayor and vice mayor, respectively.

Included in their ticket are actors Rochelle Barrameda and Dominic Ochoa, who are running for councilor. 

Vico Sotto, son of comedian Vic Sotto with actress Coney Reyes, is running for councilor of Pasig City. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Cecille Suerte Felipe