Manzano, Barbers lead opposition in Makati

Describing themselves as the underdogs, Makati City Vice Mayor Edu Manzano led the 18 candidates vying for key positions in the city government in filing their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections last Wednesday night.

Manzano, a known showbusiness figure, officially filed his candidacy for Makati mayor under the ruling Lakas-NUCD-UMDP ticket.

The actor goes up against long time Makati mayor Jejomar Binay, immediate past chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, who heads the PDP-Laban ticket.

City Councilor Robert Dean Barbers, son of senator Robert Barbers, joins Manzano as the vice mayor candidate of the party.

Manzano and Barbers, along with incumbent Councilor Mark Joseph, have long been the voice of opposition in the current batch of Makati City officials which is dominated by the supporters of Binay.

Most of the incumbent councilors have opted for reelection under the PDP-Laban ticket, leaving a predominantly new batch of candidates for the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP party.

Completing the lineup of Lakas-NUCD-UMDP are John Arenas, Glenn Enciso, Joshua Santiago, Gabriel Daza III, Mark Joseph, Zeno Zuñiga, Otelio Johico and Miguel Lopez for councilors of the first district.

Candidate for the second district are Mischa Elman, Blanquita Fitspatrick, Elena Macay, Napoleon Malimas, Antonio Manalili and Alicia Paraan, Rolando Torrente and Erlinda Usabal.

For the two congressional seats, the party has chosen Melinda Silverio for the first district and Ana Luz Cristal-Tenorio for the second district.

"What we have are not government insiders. We have a ticket whose objective is to try to bring change to Makati City," said Councilor Joseph. He explained that the party offers a change in the political structure of the city which he described as being dominated by traditional politicians. – Marvin Sy