Lani Cayetano files for reelection as Taguig mayor

MANILA, Philippines - Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni “Lani” Cayetano on Friday sought reelection for her third and final term.

Cayetano arrived at the Taguig City Commission on Elections (Comelec) office at about 11:30 a.m. and filed her certificate of candidacy (COC). She was accompanied by her husband Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano who is seeking the vice presidency in next year’s polls.

Cayetano who is leading a Nationalista Party slate will be running with reelectionist Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz.

As of 3 p.m. Friday, Cayetano was running unopposed in her bid for the city’s mayorship.

“Sa ngayon wala pa. Pero ‘di mo naman masasabing totally unopposed ka kasi bukas pa naman ang Comelec hanggang mamayang alas singko. Pero walang naghain ngayong mga nagdaang araw. Tintanggap namin ito as a positive development in the city of Taguig,” she told reporters shortly after filing her COC.

Cayetano said the absence of opposition to her reelection bid is a “positive” sign for the city.

“As you all know, over the years, nakikita natin kung paano nagiging tensyonado ang ilan sa mga naging halalan sa Taguig. Nakikita nyo ang mood ngayon kung paaano naging orderly at tahimik. Of course bilang mayor ng lungsod, masaya ako at napatunayan kung anong klase ang serbisyong publiko ang naihain namin. Hindi pa natin alam kung sino ang aking makakatunggali. Hindi ko pa naman sinasarado ang posibilidad na yan dahil mamaya pwede pa naman pong mag-file,” she said.

Cayetano added that the current political situation in Taguig is rather unusual as political opponents are identified way before the actual filing of COCs is made.

“(This is) unusual in the history of Taguig. Kasi a year before or more than a year before, alam mo na kung sino ang makakatapat mo. But again, hindi sa nagpapa-over confident ka. But para sa aming grupo, ikukumpara namin sa nagdaang history sa Taguig, this is a very positive development,” she said.

At 3:55 p.m. however, a representative from the Kilusang Diwa ng Taguig (KDT) filed the mayoralty certificate of candidacy of Rommel Tinga, a cousin of Rica Tinga who ran but was defeated by Mayor Cayetano in the 2013 polls.

Cayetano said that if elected into office for her third and final term, her administration would focus on the city’s education and health sectors.

“Marami pa rin po tayong nais ipatupad, lalo na po sa sektor ng healthcare. I’m proud to say that in the sector of education, nakita natin kung pano na-transform at kung paano naging accessible sa lahat ang edukasyon sa lungsod. We take pride in the city of Taguig. Yun ang pinakamataas na budget sa buong Pilipinas na hindi namin ini-loan at galing sa aming regular budget. But of course, sa area mga infrastructure, gusto pa natin makakita ng magagandang klase ng inprastuktura. At the same time, yung ating healthcare. Yung pagpopondo natin sa ating ospital. Yung ating existing hospital at yung isa na gagawin pa natin,” she said,

Meanwhile, Cayetano brushed aside the recent filing of charges against her and city administrator Jose Luis Montales before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Article 143 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes persons who, by force or fraud, prevent or tend to prevent the meetings of local legislative bodies.

The case arose from the eviction of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) or city council from its traditional venue and its transfer to a small room in the city auditorium in August 2010.

Due to limited space, the SP was forced to hold its proceedings on the staircase of the city hall for its maiden session and in various venues inside and outside the city hall for the next 14 sessions.

The SP members said that the padlocking of the session hall was an act of hostility, premeditated and executed with undue haste and afforded no prior consultation and nor prior notice.

“Ito po ay hindi na bago sa atin. Limang taon na po ang nakakaraan. Humarap na po ako sa parehong issue. At ang kasong ito ay na-dismiss na taong 2010 din. Pero sa proseso ng batas ay dumating po ito sa amin. Haharapin po namin yan.  Pinakaimportante na sa 18 na naghain nito, isa na lang ang masigasig na nagsusulong sapagkat ang lahat ng iba pang nagkaso ay talaga pong sila ang nagsabing wala itong basehan at na-pressure lang sila nung nakaraang administrasyon,” she said.

“Kinukwestyon po ako sa isang bagay na sa tingin ko ay wala naman po talagang basehan. Ang pagsasayos po ng mga opisina, ang pag rere-assign ng mga offices ay nasa kapangyarihan ko po bilang local government official.  At nakita ninyo po kung paano nakabuti ito. Naging mabuti ang daloy ng mga serbisyo. Ang mga member ng Sangguniang Panglungsod na ito ang syang naghain ng kaso noon. Sila rin mismo ang magsasabi na nagawa nila ito dahil na rin sa pressure ng nakaraang administration,” Cayetano added.