Ex-Comelec chief Abalos running for mayor

MANILA, Philippines — Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. is seeking a comeback as mayor of Mandaluyong in 2022.

Abalos yesterday filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor at the local Comelec office in the city.

His daughter-in-law, Mayor Menchie Abalos, also filed her COC for vice mayor.

“I am ending my hiatus from politics to fulfill my promise to my late wife,” Abalos said, referring to Corazon, who died of severe sepsis secondary to pneumonia due to COVID-19 last January.

Sotto vs Bernardo in Pasig

In Pasig, Vice Mayor Iyo Christian Bernardo will challenge Mayor Vico Sotto in next year’s elections.

In an interview on ABS-CBN News, Bernardo, a scion of the Caruncho family, said he is running for mayor to give Pasig residents an option, adding that he knows it would be a “big challenge.”

Bernardo is the grandson of the late Pasig mayor Emiliano Caruncho Jr., who served for 30 years.

Bernardo ran unopposed for vice mayor in the 2019 elections.

With Bernardo’s announcement, Sotto asked his supporters to shun mudslinging during the campaign period.

Reelectionist Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo and vice mayoral candidate Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. filed their COCs on Wednesday.

Aguilars seek reelection

In Las Piñas, Mayor Imelda Aguilar and her daughter, Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery, yesterday filed their COCs, declaring their bid for reelection.

They filed their COCs at the local Comelec office along with their candidates for councilor.

The Aguilars are running under the Nacionalista Party.

Ex-MMDA spox running, too

Former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority spokesperson Celine Pialago is seeking a seat in the House of Representatives.

The newly created party-list group Malasakit Movement yesterday filed its certificate of nomination and acceptance with the Comelec, with Pialago as its first nominee.

Pialago said the party would serve as the voice of social workers, barangay officials, overseas Filipino workers and other sectors that need representation in Congress.

“We will push for better benefits for barangay councilors, tanods and local healthcare workers,” she said.

Pialago made headlines in 2014 for incorrectly saying that a Miss Philippines Earth contestant “passed away” when she meant passed out.

In Malabon, former vice mayor Jeannie Sandoval filed her candidacy for mayor against Enzo Oreta.

Oreta is the brother of Mayor Len Oreta.

Sandoval, an ally of President Duterte, was accompanied by her husband Ricky, who is running for congressman of Malabon’s lone district. – Neil Jayson Servallos, Robertzon Ramirez, Michael Punongbayan, Marc Jayson Cayabyab