MANILA, Philippines — The battle for the local elections has started with candidates vying for congressional seats and city posts officially launching their respective campaign trails Friday.
Several local candidates in Metro Manila are kicking off their campaign with proclamation rallies and motorcades seeking to woo voters.
For Manila’s three-way fight for the city’s mayoralty, former Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is kicking-off his campaign with an early Mass at the Sto. Niño de Tondo Church.
Afterwards, Moreno will be joined by his running mate, incumbent Vice Mayor Honey Lacuña-Pangan, in a motorcade. He will then cap off the first day of the campaign season with a proclamation rally in Sampaloc, Manila.
For incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, he will be holding a proclamation rally for his opening salvo near the Dagonoy market in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, former city mayor Alfredo Lim will attend a Mass in the morning to kick off his campaign and meet with his supporters after.
Meanwhile in Makati City, incumbent Mayor Abby Binay will start her campaign with a proclamation rally along Lawton Avenue at 3 p.m.
She is facing off with her brother, former Makati Mayor Junjun Binay.
In San Juan City, incumbent Mayor Janella Ejercito will kick off her campaign with a motorcade.
Ejercito is the daugther of former Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
She is being challenged by former San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, son of San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.
In Quezon City, incumbent Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte will be contesting Quezon City Rep. Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo for the mayoralty seat.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier ordered local candidates to remove their illegal campaign posters before the official start of the campaign period for local posts, with the warning that sanctions will be imposed for violations.
READ: Comelec orders local bets to remove illegal campaign posters
The poll body also urged candidates to “clean up after themselves” in light of multiple campaign activities in the following days.
READ: Comelec to local bets: ‘Control’ supporters to avoid ‘unruly’ campaign
READ: Local bets urged to clean up, be mindful during campaign sorties
The campaign period for local candidates officially started on Friday and ends on May 11. /muf