Makati City Mayor Mar-Len Abigail Binay-Campos and her father, former vice president Jejomar Binay filed their CoCs at the Commission on Elections Makati office Wednesday.
Campos is seeking a second term and will face her brother former mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay in the mayoralty race while their father is running for the first congressional district of Makati.
The mayor, who filed her CoC as official candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance chaired by the elder Binay, was also joined by her running mate, incumbent Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo and husband, incumbent Makati 1st District Rep. Luis Campos, who is also gunning for another term.
The team was accompanied by their friends and supporters led by former senator Rene Saguisag, whose son Rebo is running for councilor when they filed their CoC at the Comelec Makati Office around 11 am.
Running for councilors in District 1 under UNA party are Martin Arenas, Alcine Yabut, Rebo Saguisag, Armand Padilla, Carmina Ortega, Joey Villena, Jhong Hilario and Jojo Javier.
In District 2, the party candidates for councilors are Dennis Almario, Bodik Baniqued, Ives Ebrada, Ed Marquez, Dra. Doris Arayon, Ina Sarosa, Sammy Cruz and Bong Ariones.
Campos thanked her father for choosing her as an official mayoral candidate of UNA and vowed to pursue her vision of a ‘competent, compassionate and transparent leadership.’
The mayor obtained her Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance signed by her father as chairman of UNA on Sept. 27.
The mayor said that in her first term as mayor of Makati, she has succeeded in turning around the city’s social and economic status by “restoring transparency and the institutional integrity of the city government.”
“We feel the pulse of our people by going down to the communities to deliver our services at their doorsteps and address their urgent needs. Our Makatizens now enjoy more services under a transparent, professional and performing administration,” she said.
She recalled how bad things were at City Hall when she assumed office in July 2016.
“Two years ago, we found the city government in a state of neglect and disorder. Worse, dirty politics and shameless political patronage had taken their toll on basic social services, depriving our beloved
Makatizens of the service they deserve,” she said.
The mayor emphasized that drastic steps had to be taken by her new administration to repair the institutional damage suffered by the city government and restore its efficient delivery of services.
In a statement, the mayor also highlighted some major achievements of her administration in the first two years of her term.
“All these efforts have begun to pay off. For the first time in 12 years, Makati posted a double-digit growth in its revenue collections for the year 2017. For the very first time, Makati obtained the highest audit rating from the Commission on Audit which rendered its unqualified opinion on our 2017 financial statements,” she said.
The mayor’s father affirmed his support for his daughter, saying he will campaign for the incumbent mayor.
For her part, the mayor told reporters that she was heartened by her father’s gesture of support, saying she was surprised. “I was surprised and I thanked him.,” she said.
The elder Binay is running for a seat in Congress as representative of the First District.
He earlier said he would not stop his son Junjun from running against his sister in the coming elections, saying he respected their decision to run, and that he would leave it up to the people of Makati to choose who best deserves their mandate.
Junjun said earlier he is ready to run against his sister to maintain the “Binay-brand” of governance in Makati.
UNA Secretary-General J.V. Bautista, meanwhile, said UNA leaders supported Junjun.
“Our presence yesterday with Mayor Junjun speaks for itself. Just like the councilors and barangay captains who have expressed their support for Mayor Junjun, we believe he is the best person for the job,” Bautista said.
Binay Jr. filed his certificate of candidacy on Tuesday at the Makati Comelec office, where he was greeted by over 15,000 supporters from Makati. Accompanying him were his older sister, UNA president Senator Nancy Binay; younger sister Anne; former Vice President Jejomar Binay’s chief of staff, Benjamin Martinez; former Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes; and Bautista.
As early as last week, 13 out of the 16 elected councilors and 21 out of 33 barangay captains publicly declared their support for Binay Jr., who has also claimed the support of senior citizens, women’s groups, and vendors federations.
READ: Ex-VP Binay gunning for Congress seat
