Vandolph in P’que race; old rivals in Munti, Pasay

ACTOR Vandolph Quizon is following in the footsteps of his mother, trading show biz for the world of politics.

Quizon, the son of the late comedy king Dolphy with actress turned Parañaque Councilor Alma Moreno, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) Tuesday to seek a seat in the city council. Moreno, on the other hand, is reportedly planning to run for senator under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party.

In Muntinlupa and Pasay, old political rivals will be pitted against each other as they aspire for their city’s top post.

Running under his party Partido San Pedro, former Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro filed his COC for the mayor’s seat at the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office Tuesday.

San Pedro, who is facing graft charges in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of P20.8-million worth of trolley bags for public school students in 2008, was accompanied by actor Ronnie Ricketts who is running for Congress.

Also with San Pedro were his running mate, incumbent Councilor Raul Corro, and other party mates seeking a seat in the city council.

With his official declaration of his candidacy, San Pedro will be pitting himself against the incumbent, Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, the official candidate of the Liberal Party.

The two were rivals for the city’s top post in 2010 and 2013. After serving as mayor for three terms, Fresnedi fielded his wife in 2007 but she was defeated by San Pedro who served his first term. Fresnedi tried to reclaim his post in 2010 only to lose to San Pedro. He succeeded, however, in 2013, defeating San Pedro who was then gunning for his last term.

Fresnedi, meanwhile, is expected to file his COC on Friday. According to Tez Navarro, the city’s public information officer, the mayor will be attending Mass at 7:30 a.m. before proceeding to the local Comelec office.

The incumbent vice mayor, Artemio Simundac, has also been rumored to be eyeing the mayoralty with plans to run either as an independent or as an adopted candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

In Pasay City, Mayor Antonino “Tony” Calixto announced his intention to improve in-city resettlement for informal settlers and the quality of education for the youth.

Calixto, who is seeking reelection under the Liberal Party, filed his COC in the local Comelec office together with his running mate, Noel del Rosario, and candidates for the city council.

“The housing within the city for the poor has not been given too much attention that is why I am planning to provide 2,500 houses for poor families,” Calixto told reporters.

He added that more than 4,000 families from the city had been relocated to Trece Martires in Cavite province but should he win, he would want to see informal settlers relocated within the city.

Also running for mayor are Jorge del Rosario, a businessman, and former Calixto ally who ran against him in 2013, and former Pasay Rep. Lito Roxas.