Abby Binay, Kid Peña launch campaigns for Makati mayor

Abigail Binay (left) and Mayor Kid Peña are launching their bids for the top Makati City post on Monday, March 28, 2016. INQUIRER FILES

VICE President Jejomar Binay will attend the proclamation rally of local candidates in Makati City today led by his daughter, Rep. Abigail “Abby” Binay, who is running for mayor under her father’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party.

The activity will be held at  3 p.m. at the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue, Chino Roces Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Extension in Makati City.

The congresswoman wants to replace her brother, Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., who was dismissed as mayor and perpetually disqualified from public service by the Ombudsman. This was after he was found to be liable in the construction of the supposedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II and the Makati Science High School building.

Abigail Binay’s running mate is Makati Rep. Monique Lagdameo. Her lineup for the council includes singer Rico J. Puno, dancer and TV host Jhong Hilario, former action star Monsour del Rosario, Ferdinand Eusebio, Ma. Arlene Ortega, Marie Alethea Casal-Uy, Romeo Medina, Jojo Javier, Baby Olfato, Divina Jacome, Grazielle de Lara, Arleen Pangilinan, Doc Pasia, Mary Ruth Tolentino, Bing Villamor and King Yabut.

With Abigail Binay on her final term as congresswoman, her husband, Luis Campos, is running for representative in the city’s second district.

Her toughest rival for the mayoral post, incumbent Makati Mayor Kid Peña of the Liberal Party, earlier announced that he would kick off his campaign with an early morning motorcade around District 1 which he considers his bailiwick.

In an advisory, Peña’s camp said that he and the other candidates on his slate would start at 5:30 a.m. from Lawton Avenue in Barangay West Rembo and go around the barangays in the district. His running mate, Karla Mercado is from the area.

Peña’s proclamation rally will be held at the corner of Lawton Avenue and J.P. Rizal Extension at 6 p.m. today. As a result, the stretch of Lawton Avenue from J.P. Rizal to Kalayaan Avenue will be closed to all vehicles.

His slate includes former Makati City General Services head Mario Hechanova who testified against the Binays at the Senate, Nico Garcia for District 1 representative with Virgilio Batalla, Mario Cruz, Jocelyn Hernandez, Raymond Kahiwat, Nilo Lopez, Jessielyn Trinidad, Victorio Umandap and Jose Villena IV for councilors.