South of Metro: 2 mayoral races wax hot, others not

WHILE the incumbent mayors of Taguig and Parañaque cities are running unopposed in the May 9 elections, Muntinlupa’s reelectionist chief executive is facing a familiar foe as Las Piñas’ last-termer mayor hopes to be succeeded by his wife.

The supposed face-off between Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and Rommel Carlo Tiñga Jr. of the Kilusang Diwa ng Taguig is no longer happening after the latter withdrew his certificate of candidacy.

Tiñga is related to former Supreme Court Associate Justice Dante Tiñga, who lost to Cayetano in the 2010 race. In 2013, the elder Tiñga’s daughter, Rica, also challenged Cayetano but met the same fate. Justice Tiñga’s son, Freddie Tiñga, served as city mayor before Cayetano.

“So it is kind of quiet here today, unlike before,” according to the city’s election officer, Eli Aringay. A few days before the elections in 2013, a run-in between Rica’s supporters and city hall employees resulted in a brawl that led to injuries on both sides. The incident led to both camps filing charges and countercharges against each other.

Cayetano’s running mate, incumbent Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz Jr., is also unopposed in his bid for reelection.

In Parañaque, Mayor Edwin Olivarez, son of former Mayor Pablo, is also without a rival in his bid for a second term. But his Liberal Party (LP) running mate, Vice Mayor Rico Golez, is up against Jeremy Marquez of NP.

AGUILAR

Jeremy is the son of former Mayor Joey Marquez, a former basketball player and actor, who was convicted of graft charges over the local government’s purchase of overpriced brooms in the late 1990s. The Sandiganbayan decision, however, was reversed by the Supreme Court in 2009.

Imelda Aguilar of NP is hoping once again to succeed her husband, Las Piñas Mayor Vergel Aguilar, who is serving his third term. She first ran and won for mayor in 2004.

Imelda, however, faces five more candidates for the post: Benjamin Raymundo Gonzales, a former councilor; Rolando Galang Gundan, who manages a pest control company; Anthony de Guia Abellar Jr.; Virgilio Legaspi Lontoc and Gabina Pakingan Punsalan.

Her running mate is incumbent Vice Mayor Luis Bustamante, who is serving a second term after running alongside her husband. Bustamante faces opposition from Luis dela Rosa Casimiro, an independent.

In Muntinlupa, incumbent Mayor Jaime Fresnedi of LP is seeking reelection against four other hopefuls, including former Mayor Aldrin San Pedro and incumbent Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac.

Running alongside Fresnedi for vice mayor is Celso Dioko, current chair of Barangay Cupang.

CAYETANO

San Pedro, of the local party Team San Pedro, has first district Councilor Raul Corro as his running mate.

Fresnedi and San Pedro also fought over the mayoralty in 2010 and 2013. After serving for three terms, Fresnedi fielded his wife in 2007 but she was defeated by San Pedro.

Fresnedi tried to reclaim his post in 2010 but like his wife, lost to San Pedro. He finally succeeded in 2013.

After three terms as the city’s No. 2, Vice Mayor Simundac now wants the top post, with Eldeliza Aguilar Nava as his running mate.

The other mayoral wannabes in Muntinlupa are Reynaldo Abas Jr., an independent; and Oscar Marmeto of Partido Bagong Maharlika.