Trinidad files COC for re-election bid

MANILA, Philippines - Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad filed yesterday his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office, seeking his second consecutive term as mayor in the 2010 polls.

He said his filing of his COC should quell once and for all rumors that his wife, Pasayeña Foundation Inc. president Nelfa Delfin-Trinidad, will run for mayor.                

Running under Trinidad’s ticket are chief of staff Greg Alcera for vice mayor, incumbent Rep. Jose Antonio Roxas, as well as Councilor Lexter Ibay, Charlie Chavez, Traffic and Parking Management Bureau chief Florencio Mateo, Abet Alvina, Let-Let Landagan and barangay captain Pinky Lyn Francisco of Villamor Air Base for the city’s first district council.                

The city’s candidates for the second district include Councilor Edith Vergel de Dios, Atty. Jim Baliad, Senior Citizens Affairs Office head Janet Protacio, Ileana Ibay, Manny Cinco and Monty Veluz.   

Trinidad and a number of his councilors will run under the banner of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.                  

Earlier, it was reported that the three other mayoralty bets are incumbent Vice Mayor Antonino Calixto, former Pasay City congresswoman Connie Dy and former policeman Ricardo “Ding” Santos.                

Trinidad, Calixto and eight Pasay City councilors were put on a six-month preventive suspension starting Sept. 1, 2006 for allegedly approving P464.6 million worth of illegal garbage collection and disposal contracts in 2004 and 2005.                 

The Office of the Ombudsman later ordered the 10 officials dismissed and installed Councilors Allan Panaligan and Arvin Tolentino as mayor and vice mayor, respectively.                 

However, Trinidad and Calixto returned to office after they won as mayor and vice mayor in the May 2007 elections.