NCR 2022 poll races: Same big names

Mayor Abby Binay, Mayor Vico Sotto and Mayor Francis Zamora

Incumbent local officials in Metro Manila were among the first to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) at their local Commission on Elections offices on Friday, the first of the eight-day period.

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto will run for another three years as mayor of the city under the Aksyon Demokratiko party of Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, who will run for president.

The 32-year-old mayor was accompanied by his parents, film and TV actors Vic Sotto and Coney Reyes.

Two officials of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday announced their resignation to vie for congressional seats in the 2022 elections.

MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia said he would vacate his position, effective Oct. 4, to seek office as a representative of San Mateo, Rizal province.

Garcia told reporters at an online briefing that he expects an even greater improvement in infrastructure in San Mateo.

“Hopefully, what I have learned in the past five years, I can apply here,” he said.

He said he would file his COC on Oct. 5.

Garcia previously served as assistant general manager for planning at the MMDA.

He was officially appointed as general manager in April 2018.

Abby for reelection

Starting Friday, Celine Pialago will no longer serve as MMDA spokesperson, as she will be the first nominee of the Malasakit Movement party list.

“I will run as a representative for the Malasakit Movement party list. Under my banner, I will work for standard benefits of barangay representatives, kagawads (councilors), barangay tanod (village watchmen) front-liners and barangay health workers,” she said in a statement.

Pialago said she would file her certificate of nomination on Oct. 6.

Sotto’s running mate will be Robert Vincent Jaworski Jr., a former basketball player who served as a one-term representative for Pasig from 2004 to 2007.

Abby Binay will run for a third and final term as mayor of Makati City.

Her COC and of her slatemates under the Makatizens United Party, were filed by their representative, lawyer Jason Certeza.

In Muntinlupa, Rep. Ruffy Biazon filed his COC for mayor of the city under the One Muntinlupa party. He would trade places with Jaime Fresnedi who has reached his third and final term as mayor.

Fresnedi is a member of the Liberal Party, while Biazon is a member of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Brods swap posts

Valenzuela City will be led by the incumbent Gatchalians. Brothers Rex and Wes Gatchalian will swap posts: Rex, who reached his three-term limit, will run as representative of the city’s first district, while Wes will vie for the mayoralty post.

Francis Zamora will seek another three-year term when he files his COC as mayor of San Juan City on Oct. 5.

In Parañaque, brothers Edwin and Eric Olivarez, who both reached the three-term limits of their posts, will trade posts. Edwin will run as first district representative of the city, while Eric will run in the mayoralty race. They were scheduled to file their COCs on Oct. 5 under the ticket of the PDP-Laban’s faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Caloocan City will be a battleground of its incumbent district representatives.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, who left the Liberal Party after 18 years to join Domagoso’s Aksyon Demokratiko party, will file his COC on Oct. 7 as mayoral candidate.

He will be battling for the post against the city’s incumbent Rep. Dale Malapitan.

Malapitan’s father, incumbent Mayor Oscar Malapitan, will finish his third and last term next year.