Manila local elections, 2016

Manila mayoral election, 2016

May 9, 2016 (2016-05-09)

Nominee Joseph Estrada Alfredo Lim Amado Bagatsing Party PMP Liberal KABAKA Running mate Maria Sheilah Lacuna-Pangan Benjamin Asilo Arnold Atienza Popular vote 283,149 280,464 167,829 Percentage 38.54% 38.17% 22.84%

Mayor before election Joseph Estrada PMP Elected Mayor Joseph Estrada PMP

Manila held its local elections on Monday, May 9, 2016, as a part of the 2016 Philippine general election. Voters elected candidates for Mayor, Vice Mayor, 6 Congressmen, and the 36 councilors that will be members of the City Council. Incumbent Mayor and reelectionist Joseph Estrada won the elections, securing him to serve his second 3-year term as the Mayor of Manila. He won by a slim margin at only over than 2,000 votes against his closest rival, former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.^[1][2] Dr. Maria Shielah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan, daughter of former Manila Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna, Estrada’s running-mate, topped the vice mayoral race with 268,969 votes.^[3]

Background

Incumbent mayor and former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada was first elected as mayor in 2013. He defeated then-incumbent mayor Alfredo Lim in a closely contested election, winning 53% of the vote to Lim's 47%.

Mayor Estrada announced in April 2015 that he is running for re-election. This is in total contrast to his May 9, 2012 pronouncement that he will only serve for one term should he be elected to the post back then, after which he would subsequently retire from politics.^[4][5]

Unlike Estrada, his running mate in 2013, three-term incumbent vice mayor Isko Moreno is term limited as he served for three consecutive terms. He is running for the Senate.

Sources indicate that although Manila leaders identified with Estrada under the local Asenso Manileño party, Moreno included, are pushing for former Manila vice mayor Danilo Lacuna to be his running mate, Estrada is said to be seriously considering his current city administrator, Jojo Alcovendaz, to be his vice mayoral candidate under his party, despite the latter's San Juan City residence. However, the Estrada camp, upon further consultation, eventually chose former 4th District councilor and current city social services head Maria Sheilah "Honey" Lacuna-Pangan as his runningmate.^[6]

On July 22, 2015, incumbent 5th district Rep. Amado Bagatsing launched his bid to be the next mayor of the city once governed by his father, former mayor Ramon Bagatsing, offering himself as an alternative while blaming the city’s "deterioration" on the incumbent and his predecessor. His running mate is the son of former mayor and current Buhay Party-list Representative Lito Atienza, current 5th District Councilor and 2007 Mayoral candidate Ali Atienza.^[7] On October 12, 2015, Bagatsing made his bid official by filing his certificate of candidacy.^[8]

On October 13, 2015, Alfredo Lim filed to run again for his old post. He is the official candidate of the ruling Liberal Party. His running mate is incumbent 1st district Rep. Benjamin Asilo.^[9]

Campaign

Local campaign period started on March 26, 2016. Estrada, with runningmate Honey Lacuna, hold their proclamation rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio, while Lim, with runningmate Benjamin Asilo started their campaign at the Plaza Miranda, on March 28, 2016, 2 days after the official start of campaign for local candidates.

During the incumbent mayor's rally, Estrada formally endorsed his goddaughter, Grace Poe as his choice for president and Bongbong Marcos for vice president.^[10] He picked Poe, over his co-partymate Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance. He said that the Mayor's gratitude to the presidential candidate's father Fernando Poe, Jr., a candidate of the Philippine presidential election, 2004 but later lost, as one of the reasons why he made the decision to endorse Poe.^[11]

Among his senatorial candidates that he will support are Joel Villanueva, Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, Martin Romualdez, Getulio Napeñas, Neri Javier Colmenares, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard J. Gordon, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sergio Osmeña III, Francis Tolentino and Isko Moreno, the incumbent Vice Mayor of the city.^[10] Major roads in Manila including the McArthur Bridge are closed down due to the said event.^[12]

Lim's campaign started with his visit to the Islamic Center in Bgy. San Miguel, together with Liberal Party's presidential bet Mar Roxas. The two then went to Plaza Miranda for the former Mayor's proclamation rites which was attended by 5,000 supporters.^[13] Roxas' runningmate Leni Robredo and President Benigno Aquino III also attended the rally.^[14]

A day before the two rallies, Amado Bagatsing, together with his runningmate Ali Atienza kick-off their campaign at Tondo.

Mayoralty and Vice Mayoralty Elections

Mayor

First term incumbent and former President Joseph Estrada, who was elected with 53% of the vote in 2013, is seeking another term. Former Senator and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who Estrada defeated in 2013, is seeking a rematch. Also running is 5th district Rep. Amado Bagatsing.

Mayoralty Race in Manila during 2016 General Election

Vice Mayor

Three-term incumbent Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, who was re-elected with 63% of the vote in 2013, is term-limited and is barred from running again for this post this election. His party's nominee is Maria Sheilah "Honey" Lacuna-Pangan. Facing her are three-term representatives Benjamin Asilo of the 1st District and Trisha Bonoan-David of the 4th District. Incumbent 5th District councilor and former 2007 mayoral candidate Ali Atienza is also running for the seat.

District Representatives

1st District

The 1st district is composed of the western part of Tondo. Three-term Liberal Party incumbent Benjamin "Atong" Asilo, who was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2013, is term-limited and will instead run for vice mayor; his brother, incumbent councilor Roberto Asilo, is his party's nominee.

Also running for this district are incumbent three-term councilors Ian "Banzai" Nieva and Ernesto Dionisio, Jr as well as Manny Lopez. Nieva is the son of the late Ernesto "Banzai" Nieva, who represented this district from 1998 to 2007.

2nd District

The city's 2nd District covers the eastern part of Tondo, a place known as Gagalangin. Carlo Lopez is the incumbent representative and has already serve two terms. He won on the 2010 local elections and was re-elected with 69% of the vote in 2013. He is running for his third and final term under the Liberal Party. He runs unopposed because his supposed opponent, Councilor Numero "Uno" Lim, was nominated by the party-list group Tanggol Maralita Inc. (TAMA).

3rd District

The 3rd district is composed of Binondo, Quiapo, San Nicolas, and Santa Cruz. Zenaida "Naida" Angping, who was re-elected with 62% of the vote in 2013, is term-limited and is barred from running again this election. Her party nominated her husband, former representative Harry Angping who represented this district from 1998 to 2004.

His opponents are three-term incumbent City Councilor John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto and former Councilor Ramon Morales. Morales also ran in this district in 2013 and lost receiving only 36% of the vote.

4th District

The 4th district is composed of Sampaloc. Ma. Theresa "Trisha" Bonoan-David, who ran unopposed in 2013, is term-limited and is barred from running again this election. Her party nominated her sister, Annie.

Other candidates for this district are three-term councilor Edward Maceda, two-term councilor Don Juan "DJ" Bagatsing, one-term councilor Science Reyes, and former Ateneo basketball player Jobe Nkemakolam.

5th District

The 5th district is composed of Ermita, Malate, Paco (excluding Zone 90), Intramuros, Port Area, and San Andres Bukid (including the Manila South Cemetery). Amado Bagatsing, who was re-elected with 89% of the vote in 2013, is term-limited and is barred from running again this election and will instead run for Mayor. His party's nominee is his daughter Cristal.

Her opponents are former representatives Joey Hizon and Mary Ann Susano as well as incumbent three-term councilor Josie Siscar. Joey Hizon represented this district from 1998 to 2007. Meanwhile, Mary Ann Susano represented Quezon City's 2nd Congressional District from 2004 to 2010.

6th District

The 6th district is composed of Paco (Zone 90), Pandacan, Santa Ana, San Miguel, and Santa Mesa. Two-term incumbent Sandy Ocampo, who won re-election in 2013 with 51% of the vote, is seeking a third term. She is co-nominated by NUP and local party KABAKA while Benny Abante is also co-nominated by Asenso Manileño Party.

This is the third straight election in which the two candidates are facing each other with Ocampo winning the first two by narrow margins.

City Council

1st District

Incumbent councilors Dennis Alcoreza, Ernesto Dionisio Jr., and Erick Ian Nieva are term-limited and cannot seek re-election. Meanwhile, councilors Irma Alfonso and Roberto Asilo, who are not term-limited, chose not to seek re-election. Of the six councilors representing this district, only Niño dela Cruz is seeking re-election.

Former councilors Rolando Sy, Jesus Fajardo Sr., Ernesto Dionisio Sr., Arlene Koa, Moises Lim, Martin Isidro Jr., and Abraham Cabochan are each trying to regain a seat in the council.

2nd District

Incumbent councilors Marlon Lacson and Numero Lim are term-limited and cannot seek re-election. Councilors Ruben Buenaventura, Rodolfo Lacsamana, Ramon Robles, and Rolando Valeriano are all seeking another term.

Among those vying for a seat in the council are former councilors Edward Tan and Nelissa Beltran.

3rd District

Incumbent councilors Joel Chua, Ernesto Isip Jr., and John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto are term-limited and cannot seek re-election. Meanwhile, councilors Bernardito Ang, Ma. Asuncion Fugoso, and Manuel Zarcal are all vying for another term.

4th District

Incumbent councilors Edward Maceda and Jocelyn Quintos are term-limited and cannot seek re-election. Meanwhile, councilors Don Juan Bagatsing, and Science Reyes, who are not term-limited, chose not to seek re-election. Councilors Krystle Bacani and Anton Capistrano are both vying for a second term.

Among those gunning for a council seat are former councilors Luisito Chua, Eduardo "Wardee" Quintos XIV, and Victoriano Melendez. And also, Eduardo 'Bimbo' Quintos XVI would not run for councilor due to his disqualification case in the office.

5th District

Incumbent councilors Cristina Isip, Josefina Siscar, and Raymundo Yupangco are barred by term limits from seeking re-election. Meanwhile, councilor Arnold Atienza, who is not term-limited, chose not to seek another term. Councilors Joey Hizon III and Roberto Ortega Jr. are both vying for another term.

Among those seeking a council seat are former councilors Richard Ibay, Roderick Valbuena, and Arturo Valenzona. Three-term Buhay Party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng is also running for a council seat in this district.

6th District

Incumbent councilors Priscilla Marie Abante, Leilani Marie Lacuna, Joel Par, Elizabeth Rivera, Casimiro Sison, and Christian Paul Uy are all seeking another term.

Among those running for a council seat are former councilors Carlos Castañeda, Pablo Dario Ocampo, and Luciano Veloso. Castañeda served in the city council as the President of the Liga ng mga Barangay from 2004 to 2007 while Ocampo represented the 5th district from 1995 to 1998.

References