MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and running mate Vice Mayor Isko Moreno filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) before the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila yesterday morning.
Lim is seeking reelection as mayor under the coalition party Liberal Party–Laban para sa Kapayapaan, Katarungan at Kaunlaran (KKK).
Moreno, a guest candidate of Lim, is seeking reelection under the Asenso Manileño party.
Lim’s political rival, Deparment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza, himself a former three-term mayor of Manila, will file his COC today.
Neophyte politician Avelino Razon, a former Philippine National Police chief and Manila Police District director, has already formalized his entry into the mayoralty race.
Lim and Moreno went together to the Comelec’s Manila office on Arroceros street after participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila to mark Bonifacio Day.
Lim scored Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who allegedly ordered the killing of more than 60 people in Maguindanao “just to stay in power.”
“I hope this would not happen in our city. If this happens here, the perpetrators will be dealt with the power of the law in our city of Manila. We will not allow these extrajudicial killings to happen. This is not right,” Lim said.
Lim was accompanied by his legal counsels Rafaelito Garayblas, Renato de la Cruz, and David Corpin.
Deputy Mayor Joey Silva, now the KKK party’s political campaign manager, said that despite the strength of Lim’s ticket, anything can happen in the campaign period and during the election proper.
The KKK, founded by Lim and actively coordinated by Silva, chose Nino de la Cruz, Nestor Lim, Peter Ong, Thelma Lim, Jay Dela Fuente, Josie Siscar, Lou Veloso as candidates for councilor. The party also supports the incumbent majority bloc councilors’ bids for reelection.
Lim said the city government is constructing two more public hospitals to complement the Ospital ng Tondo, Ospital ng Sampaloc and the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, which he established in his first term in 1992 to augment the health services provided by the lone city-run hospital at the time, the Ospital ng Maynila.
Once the two new hospitals are completed, Manila will have one city hospital for each of its six districts, all providing free treatment and medicines for poor residents. Lim said this is a feat never accomplished by his predecessors.
Lim and Moreno, both from poor families, have similarly embarked on programs to provide free health care, livelihood and education for indigents.
Atienza wants to reclaim Manila
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza will file his COC at the Comelec’s Manila office to formalize his bid for Manila’s top post.
Atienza said he will run under the LP’s Atienza wing despite the likely endorsement of his candidacy by former President Joseph Estrada.
He said there will a Mass at Quiapo Church and a program at Plaza Miranda before he files his COC.
“My administration’s call for Buhayin ang Maynila through urban renewal started in Plaza Miranda. The facelift of Plaza Miranda and Quiapo area began under my leadership in Manila,” Atienza told The STAR.
“So the launching of my return is aptly going to be at Plaza Miranda, to signal anew the urban renewal of the city,” he added.
According to Atienza, Estrada helped in the construction of Plaza Miranda, including the Lacson underpass, and supported the overall improvement of the area. His urban renewal project in Manila commenced during the Estrada administration.
Atienza said he will not resign as DENR chief even after he files his COC at the Comelec. He said the Supreme Court has yet to decide whether a government official has to resign from his post upon filing of the COC.
He said the law only requires a government official seeking an elective position to resign when the campaign period begins. For the May 2010 local elections, the Comelec said the campaign period begins on March 2010.
Atienza, whose running mate will be 15-year District 6 Councilor Bonjay Isip, earlier vowed to “sweep out all the dirt and corruption out of the Manila City Hall.” – With Katherine Adraneda