Sen. Nancy Binay
MANILA, Philippines — Incumbent Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and outgoing Sen. Nancy Binay were among the early birds who filed their certificates for candidacy (COCs) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, the first day of the filing period.
Belmonte, who is seeking a third and final term, was accompanied by her father, former Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr., and her husband Raymund Alimurung when she went to the Amoranto Sports Complex to submit her COC. Also with them was her running mate, incumbent Vice Mayor Gian Sotto.
“QCitizens, you can be assured that Mayor Joy and Vice Mayor Gian will continue to advocate for good governance for a better Quezon City,” a post on Belmonte’s Facebook page said about the tandem.
READ: Election season kicks off: Familiar, new faces appear to file candidacy
Another politician in the city who filed his COC was actor and incumbent Quezon City Rep. Arjo Atayde, who was accompanied by his mother, award-winning actress Sylvia Sanchez. He is seeking reelection, along with actress and incumbent Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez.
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Showdown
In Makati, Binay filed her COC for Makati’s highest post, which may pit her against the husband of her sister, Abby Binay, who is the incumbent.
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The outgoing senator filed her COC at the Comelec office in Makati alongside Monsour del Rosario, a former actor who served as city councilor from 2010 to 2016 and later, as House representative from 2016 to 2019. Del Rosario is running for vice mayor.
Abby had said in January that she wanted to be succeeded by her husband, Makati Rep. Luis Campos Jr., as he was the only person she trusts to finish her projects.
In May, Nancy mentioned in a press briefing that she was considering running for Makati mayor, citing the need for residents to be cared for by someone “who can provide care like the Binays.”
“While it is unfortunate, at the end of the day, we need to consider what will be good for Makati,” Nancy said when asked if her decision could lead to a conflict with Abby.
“If there is a need to sacrifice my relationship with my in-law (Campos) for the people of Makati, [then] we have to sacrifice,” she added.
Speaking to reporters after filing her COC, Nancy said that she and other family members have yet to talk to Abby about the matter although she emphasized that there was no conflict between them because “there is no Abby Binay on the ballot.”
Up to residents
“Since we filed today, maybe he (Campos) would no longer continue with his candidacy. The filing of COCs is until Oct. 8, so there’s still that possibility for my sister to talk with her husband and tell him not to run for mayor,” Nancy added.
“At the end of the day, we should let the people of Makati decide whether they still want the service of Binays, which was started by my father and continued by my siblings,” she said.
Makati has been the political bailiwick of the Binay family since 1986, which saw the patriarch, Jejomar Binay, appointed as mayor. He was later succeeded by his wife Elenita, son Junjun and daughter Abby. In 2016, both Junjun and Abby ran for mayor, leading to a rift within the family. Abby, however, emerged victorious.
Conflict is also brewing in the city of Manila as incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna said she feels “betrayed” by the possibility of her predecessor, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, running against her.
“Definitely, I feel betrayed. Because when he bid farewell and ran for the presidency, it was very clear to us, to our party, that if he didn’t get lucky, he said he would retire,” Lacuna said in an interview with ONE PH’s Sa Totoo Lang on Monday.
“On several occasions he’s always assuring us that he’s always retired from the field of politics and that we will never be rivals,” she added.
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Lacuna was referring to Domagoso’s failed campaign for the presidency in 2022 where he received only 1.9 million votes. Lacuna was Domagoso’s vice mayor from 2019 to 2022.
