October 8, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Cynthia Villar yesterday filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) as representative of the lone district of Las Piñas – a post currently held by her daughter Camille.
Camille is vying for a senatorial seat in the 2025 midterm elections, in a bid to join her elder brother, Sen. Mark Villar, in the upper chamber.
Instead of running for mayor, the Villar matriarch said she wants to be a congresswoman again to continue her advocacies in agriculture and the environment.
“I pity the farmers If I will leave them,” she said.
Villar served as representative of Las Piñas for three terms, from 2001 to 2010.
She won as senator in 2013 and was reelected in 2019.
“We are not a dynasty. We are a family. But it has been done by my father since 1963. He passed on to us our beloved Las Piñas,” Villar said. “We just inherited his love for the people of Las Piñas.”
Lani Cayetano seeks second term
In Taguig, Mayor Lani Cayetano yesterday filed her candidacy for reelection at the Comelec office in the city.
During a program held before the filing of COC, Cayetano presented her candidates under TLC (Team Lani Cayetano).
She endorsed the candidacy of reelectionist Taguig-Pateros 1st District Rep. Ricardo Cruz Jr., who is running against Lino Cayetano, her brother-in-law and former mayor of Taguig.
Cayetano also presented reelectionist Vice Mayor Arvin Alit and Fort Bonifacio barangay captain Jorge Daniel Bocobo, who will be running as representative of the Taguig-Pateros 2nd District.
Asked for comment on why Lino did not join her ticket, Cayetano said it was “his decision and his alone.”
Based on a Comelec resolution, Taguig voters will choose 12 councilors per district instead of the current eight.
The increase was due to the inclusion of the residents of the 10 embo (enlisted men’s barrio) barangays in Taguig instead of Makati.
In Marikina, Teodoros vs Quimbos
From being a lawmaker, Marikina 1st District Rep. Marjorie Ann Teodoro is running for mayor in 2025.
Teodoro filed her COC at the Comelec office in the city yesterday.
She is seeking to switch post with her husband, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, who is running for congressman of Marikina’s first district against Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
Marcelino is now on his last term as mayor.
Marjorie Ann’s running mate is incumbent Vice Mayor Marion Andres.
Teodoro is expected to face Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, who has yet to file her COC.
Stella’s spouse, former congressman Miro Quimbo, is seeking a comeback at the House of Representatives under the ruling Lakas-CMD party.
Miro filed his candidacy as representative of the city’s 2nd District.
The couple accused Marcelino Teodoro of hatching a plan to “erase the Quimbos” in Marikina.
Marjorie Ann is confident that with her experience, she is ready to become the city’s chief executive.
She vowed to continue the programs set by her husband.
Among her priorities is ending the perennial flooding in the city during the rainy season through the dredging of the Marikina River.
Marjorie Ann also promised to focus on programs to benefit the youth, such as institutionalizing educational assistance and sports programs to ensure continuity even if there is a new administration in the city.
The tax relief and exemptions implemented by her husband will also be expanded should she win in next year’s elections, Marjorie Ann said.
Menchie Abalos seeks comeback
In Mandaluyong, Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos is seeking to reclaim the city’s mayoralty post.
Her running mate is Councilor Anthony Suva.
Abalos and members of her slate will file their COC today.
In Pasig, reelectionist Mayor Vico Sotto is being challenged by St. Gerard Construction and Development Corp. owner Cezarah Rowena Discaya.
Discaya filed her COC for mayor yesterday.
In Pasay, Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano formalized her bid for a third term as she filed her COC yesterday with the “Team Calixto” or the PFP-Lakas-Tapat Coalition.
Calixto-Rubiano was joined by her brother Rep. Antonino Calixto, who is running for his final term as the lone representative of Pasay.
Calixto-Rubiano’s running mate is Councilor Mark Calixto.
“Expect that we will continue to give an honest and more than enough service for our constituents,” she said.
In Manila, former congressman Amado Bagatsing submitted his candidacy as representative of the city’s fifth district. — Daphne Galvez, Emmanuel Tupas, Jose Rodel Clapano, Mark Ernest Villeza
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