MANILA, Philippines — Siblings Makati Mayor Abby Binay and former mayor Junjun Binay are apparently on a collision course after Junjun declared yesterday that there is a high possibility that he would run against his sister in the mayoral race.
While neither of the siblings has filed a certificate of candidacy (COC), Junjun said in an interview that his decision would depend on the voters’ support, not the backing of their father, Jejomar Binay.
The former vice president, who is reportedly seeking to represent the city’s first district in the House of Representatives, has yet to issue a statement on the issue. Abby’s husband, Makati District 2 Rep. Luis Campos, is allegedly seeking re-election.
Abby is unfazed by reports that Junjun is running against her.
“It’s a free country. Like everyone else, he’s free to run for public office. I was hoping he wouldn’t, for the sake of Makati and family unity, but he is his own man and can very well decide for himself,” she said.
Abby said Junjun is allegedly being influenced by some of her detractors into running for mayor so they could again steal the city’s funds.
Abby has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to file charges against two city councilors, including Junjun’s alleged right-hand man, for alleged corruption and for hiring ghost employees.
Abby said that she has obtained the statements of the witnesses who will testify on the alleged corrupt practices of Councilors Ferdinand Eusebio and Divine Jacome.
She said Armando Khong Hun, a major contractor of the city government, accused Eusebio of demanding kickbacks, gifts and favors during her brother’s term and has forcibly asked him to construct a building in Makati worth P20 million for free.
Abby said Khong Hun has filed a complaint against Eusebio before the National Bureau of Investigation for graft.
Jacome allegedly hired 20 ghost employees as community affairs assistants and their ATM cards are in the councilor’s possession, Abby said.
Thirteen of Makati’s 16 councilors, including Eusebio, recently expressed their support for Junjun.
Meanwhile, Ricky Yabut, a son of former Makati mayor Nemesio Yabut, filed his COC for mayor yesterday. He is running under the Bigkis Pinoy party.
Two-way race
In Quezon City, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and her runningmate Councilor Gian Carlo Sotto filed their COCs yesterday against the tandem of former congressman Chuck Mathay and Councilor Roderick Paulate.
Belmonte, running under her local Serbisyo ng Bayan Party (SBP), is on her last term as vice mayor after she ran virtually unopposed in 2016.
The SBP has forged an alliance with the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the regional party of presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Belmonte said she will prioritize inclusiveness in her programs if she does win in the mayoral race.
Both Belmonte and Sotto – who were accompanied by their fathers District 4 Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, brushed aside criticisms of their families’ political lines.
Mathay, who won as District 2 congressman in 2001, will challenge Belmonte for the city’s top post. He is a son of the former Quezon City mayor Ismael Mathay.
His runningmate, Paulate, is on third and last term as a councilor. He has a pending case for the alleged hiring of fictitious contractual employees in 2010.
They will run under the Katipunan Demokratiko ng Pilipino party.
District 1 Rep. Bingbong Crisologo has confirmed that he will run for mayor but has yet to file his COC.
Fifteen persons seeking a seat on the city council also filed their COCs yesterday, among them Fernando Miguel “Mikey” Belmonte, grandson of the former Speaker and a son of STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte.
Mikey, who is running in District 2, said he feels a “great deal of pressure” coming out of the shadows cast by the members of his family. He said he wants to become his own person and focus on sustainable livelihood.
Franz Pumaren and Jorge Banal are running for councilor in District 3 while Restituto Malangen, Ivy Lagman, Irene Belmonte and Aurora Suntay are running in District 4.
Joe Visaya and Ramon Medalla filed their COC for District 5 while Donato Mathias, Eric Medina, Marvic Co-Pilar and Rogelio Juan will run in District 6.
New rivals
In Taguig City, former congressman Arnel Cerafica filed yesterday his COC for mayor. He is expected to run against Lino Cayetano, who is reportedly set to file his COC to replace Mayor Lani Cayetano, who will end her third term in office next year.
Mayor Antolin Oreta will be running against Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval for Malabon’s top post, a source told The STAR.
Sandoval is 80 percent sure of gunning for the post, the source said.
Oreta is a member of the Liberal Party while Sandoval and her husband, Rep. Ricky Sandoval, are members of the PDP-Laban.
The two have yet to file their COCs.
In Mandaluyong, re-electionist Mayor Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos filed her COC yesterday, accompanied by her husband, former mayor Benhur Abalos.
Vice Mayor Anthony Suva also filed his COC to seek re-election as Abalos’ runningmate.
The former mayor said he “allowed” his wife to seek re-election as he would take a long vacation from politics and instead devote his time to teaching.
Four ways
A four-way battle is looming for Manila’s top post.
Mayor Joseph Estrada, who is running for his third and last term, is set to file his COC on Oct. 17, the last day of filing.
Former mayors Alfredo Lim and Joselito Atienza are also reportedly set to join the mayoral race.
Estrada is teaming up with former District 5 congressman Amado Bagatsing.
Social Welfare Undersecretary Isko Moreno, a former vice mayor of Manila, is reportedly set to file his COC for mayor on Monday.
He is allegedly teaming up with incumbent Vice Mayor Maria Shiela “Honey” Lacuna, who was Estrada’s running mate when he ran for his second term in 2016.
Lim showed up at the Commission on Election’s main office yesterday morning to support Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel’s re-election bid.
The former mayor, who ran and won under the Liberal Party in 2007 and 2010, has joined Pimentel’s PDP-Laban. Lim has already signified his desire to reclaim his former post but has yet to announce his running mate.
Atienza, Buhay party-list congressman, is allegedly hoping to make a big comeback, according to a source.
No Honeylet
President Duterte’s partner, businesswoman Honeylet Avanceña, is not a registered voter in Valenzuela City, dousing reports she is running against Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian.
There is no registered voter in Valenzuela under her name, according to Valenzuela elections officer Felton Sadang.
Gatchalian, who is seeking his third and last term, is set to file his COC on Monday.
Under the Local Government Code, a local candidate must be a registered boter in the place where he or she wants to run for an elective post. – With Non Alquitran, Rey Galupo, Marc Jayson Cayabyab