Atienza to join 2019 Manila mayoral race if Erap won’t solve environment woes

Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza on Thursday said he would run for Manila mayor in the 2019 elections if Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada will not solve the city’s worsening environmental woes.

“Pag si Mayor Erap eh talagang nabago niya ang takbo ng panahon ng kaniyang administrasyon, edi magpatuloy na lang sya. Pero ‘pag hindi siya nagbago, ang baho ng Maynila, ang baha terible, ang basura nasa baha… Pag hindi nabago ito, eh tutugon ako sa panawagan ng marami,” Atienza said at a media forum.

Atienza served as mayor of Manila for three terms from 1998 to 2007. He was also a former secretary of the Department of Environment and Resources.

He ran and lost to Alfredo Lim in the 2010 Manila mayoral race.

Last February, Estrada announced his intention to seek a third and final term in the elections next year, while Lim also reportedly confirmed his plan to return as Manila mayor.

Estrada defeated Lim twice during the 2013 and 2016 mayoral contests.

Aside from Lim, Estrada said he might also be pitted against former Senator Manuel Villar and former Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno.  /muf

READ: Erap eyes 3rd term as mayor, sees Isko, Lim, Villar as rivals