Hubert Webb enters politics

By: Jaymee T. Gamil, Kristine Felisse Mangunay - 9 years ago

WEBB in a 2010 file photo

FIVE years after being acquitted in the 1991 Vizconde massacre case, a legal saga that kept him behind bars for 15 years, Hubert Webb apparently wants to complete his vindication through the ballot.

The son of a former senator, who was among the six men convicted in 2000 for the killing of sisters Carmela and Jennifer and their mother Estrellita Vizconde in their Parañaque City home, and then acquitted by the Supreme Court a decade later, is running for city councilor in the 2016 elections.

Webb filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Wednesday, according to Kimberly Alzate-Cu, the city’s election officer.

Webb’s brother Jason is on his third and last term as councilor of the city’s first district, where Hubert is running as an independent.

The son of former senator Freddie Webb entered the political arena on Day 3 of the five-day period for the filing of COCs.

In neighboring Las Piñas City, the dominant Aguilars are again fielding the family matriarch, Imelda, as the mayoral candidate who can succeed her husband, Mayor Vergel Aguilar, who is on his third term.

It won’t be the first time for the city’s mayoral seat to go from husband to wife: In 2004, Imelda succeeded Vergel, who at that time had already served three consecutive terms as mayor since 1997.

She held the post from 2004 to 2007, after which Vergel took over.

Imelda filed her COC on Wednesday along with allies who included reelectionist Rep. Mark Villar, Vice Mayor Louie Bustamante who is gunning for a third term, and 12 city council candidates.

Aguilar is up against independent candidate Benjamin Raymundo Gonzales, a former councilor, and Rolando Galang Gundan, a 75-year-old owner of a pest control company.

In Quezon City, among those who filed COC was Maria Teresa Gana, a former live-in partner of Mayor Herbert Bautista, with whom she has two children.

The 50-year-old political newcomer under the Nacionalista Party lists her being the founder of a charity foundation among her credentials. “For many years I have been helping the patients of Child Haus (a caring home for cancer-stricken children). I thought of using the resources of the government to help others,” Gana said.

“He can’t stop me,” she said when asked how Bautista viewed her entry into politics. “We’re fine. We’re friends, we talk everyday, and we’re okay.”

Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte also filed her COC as she seeks a third term.

Bautista’s announced on Monday that he will also seek reelection—after disclosing last week that he was also considering joining the Liberal Party senatorial lineup.

“We will continue what we started,” Belmonte said. “(Bautista’s) platform is on disaster risk reduction management, housing. Mine is more on social services for youth and women. I think that both of us are working together (as) a good team, and we will be able to give even better services to the people in the next three years.” TVJ