Showdown starts: Who’s who in Metro Manila polls?

With over 7 million registered voters, the National Capital Region (NCR) is the second vote-rich region in the country. (PNA Photo)

MANILA — With over 7 million registered voters, the National Capital Region (NCR) is the second vote-rich region in the country.

Aside from voting for national candidates, voters in the NCR head to the polls to elect candidates who will lead each of the region’s 16 cities and lone municipality.

Among the positions up for grabs in the local polls of the country’s political, economic and educational center are for Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilors and Member of the House of Representatives.

For the 2019 polls, the campaign for local candidates officially started on March 29 and will end on May 11.

Why it matters?

More than just getting free stuff or better quality of service, voters are more concerned about local polls as their choice may either result in the continuity of programs or the implementation of new projects and policies which may affect their way of life as well as the regional economy. It will depend on who will make it to their respective city/municipal halls after the votes have been counted.

Local elections are also known to be rowdier because candidates are often familiar with the people in their respective areas. This concept of “immediate community” enables them to form camps and gather supporters for their campaign.

“There is more conflict and tension in the air – both physical and emotional – because every single candidate has his/her own rabid camp and followers who are more involved intensely, during this period. There is a probability of clashes amongst the local candidates and his/her followers,” National Capital Region Police Office chief, Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.

Old-timers vs. ‘young blood’

In the capital city of Manila, it is a battle between two old officials and a young blood.

Incumbent Mayor and former President Joseph Estrada is running for a third and last term against former mayor Alfredo Lim and former vice mayor and Department Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Francisco Domagoso, also known as “Isko Moreno” during his stint as an actor.

Estrada’s running mate, former fifth district Rep. Amado Bagatsing will attempt to snatch the vice mayor post from incumbent Maria Sheilah Lacuna-Pangan, the daughter of long-time city vice mayor Danilo Lacuna.

In Pasig, Councilor Victor “Vico” Sotto is running for the city’s top post against incumbent Robert Eusebio, whose clan has been dominating city’s political scene for years.

Sotto, 29, the youngest councilor in Pasig, is currently the chairman of Pasig City’s Public Relations and Information Committee.

Meanwhile, vice mayor Christian Caruncho Bernardo is running unopposed.

Familiar, powerful names

Powerful names in majority of the cities of Metro Manila are vying to continue their rule.

In Taguig, former congressman and movie director Lino Cayetano is running to take over the mayoral post from his sister-in-law, incumbent Lani Cayetano.

Lani, meanwhile, is running for congresswoman of the city’s second district while her husband, former senator and Foreign Affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano is running for congressman of the city’s first district.

Alan Peter, the running mate of President Rodrigo Duterte in the May 2016 presidential elections, is reportedly seeking a leadership role in the House of Representatives if he wins in the 2019 polls.

In Makati, former mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay is challenging his sister, incumbent Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” Binay-Campos.

They are both children of former Vice President and long-time city mayor Jejomar Binay, who is running for the city’s first congressional district.

In Pasay, incumbent Mayor Antonino Calixto and his sister, Rep. Imelda Calixto-Rubiano will attempt to switch posts.

Rubiano will face retired Manila Chief Prosecutor Edward Togonon and Cesar “Chet” Cuneta in the battle for the city’s top post.

In Parañaque, incumbent Mayor Edwin Olivarez, who ran unopposed in the May 2016 elections, is up to defend his post against former mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. who served as mayor for three consecutive terms since 2004.

Olivarez is the son of Dr. Pablo Olivarez, who also served as city mayor from 1992 to 1995. The physician-turned-politician is the incumbent chairman of Barangay San Dionisio.

Olivarez is teaming up with incumbent Vice Mayor Rico Golez, son of the late former National Security adviser and Paranaque 2nd District Rep. Roilo Golez.

Bernabe’s running mate is former Barangay BF chairman and actor Jeremy Marquez.

Meanwhile, incumbent Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi will try to keep his post from former Bureau of Immigration Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Mariñas and three other challengers.

In Marikina, incumbent Mayor Marcelino Teodoro will seek a second term, hoping to beat challengers Lorderito Nebres and Marijoy Villoso.

Deputies vying for top posts

This year’s local polls in Metro Manila also includes those who are “bridesmaids” hoping to become the bride.

In San Juan, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s daughter, incumbent Vice Mayor Janella Ejercito Estrada will face former vice mayor Francis Zamora in the mayoralty race.

Estrada seeks to continue the programs of her grandmother, incumbent Mayor Guia Gomez.

In Quezon City, incumbent Vice Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, who is on her third and last term, will try to grab the city’s top post as she battles current first district Rep. Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo and former congressman Ismael Mathay III.

Belmonte is the daughter of long-time city mayor and former fourth district congressman and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

For the city’s vice mayoralty race, it will be a battle between Councilor Gian Sotto, lawyer Joseph Peter Sison and Councilor Roderick Paulate.

In Malabon, incumbent Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval will go against incumbent Mayor Antolin Oreta III for the city’s top post. Meanwhile, Councilors Bernard dela Cruz and Maricar Torres are vying for the vice mayor post.

No or few known challengers

While local polls in many cities in the Metro are seen to be a battle of big names, some areas seem not to have prominent challengers to incumbent officials.

In Las Piñas, incumbent Mayor Imelda Aguilar will try to keep her post against independent bets Luis Casimiro, Benjamin Gonzales and Conrado Miranda.

Meanwhile, Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos, wife of long-time Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., will seek a second term.

Benhur is the son of Benjamin Abalos Sr., who served as chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the term of former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In Pateros, incumbent Mayor Miguel Ponce III and Vice Mayor Gerald German will try to keep their posts against challengers Willie Buenaventura and Carlos Santos, respectively.

It will be the same case for Navotas as the battle for the city’s top posts is only between Rep. Tobias Tiangco and incumbent Vice Mayor Clint Nicolas Geronimo and their challengers Councilor Dan Israel Ang and Raymond Emil Cruz.

Tiangco will seek to replace his brother John Rey, the city’s incumbent Mayor.

Meanwhile, incumbent Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan will face four independent candidates, namely Rufino Bayon-on, Edgardo Sevilla, Maximo Torrelino and Emil Trinidad and Ronnie Malunes (Labor Party Philippines).

His running mate, Vice Mayor Macario Assistio III is running unopposed.

In Valenzuela, incumbent Mayor Rex Gatchalian will seek a third consecutive term. His challengers are Antonio Go and Bienvenido Español.

Gatchalian’s running mate, Vice Mayor Lorena Borja is running unopposed.

Rex took the helm of the city’s leadership in 2016 from his brother, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.