Three members of the Bagatsing political clan are running in the May 13 elections and promised to give genuine and honest service to residents of Manila.
Former 5th district congressman Amado Bagatsing is running for vice mayor and teamed up with incumbent Mayor Joseph Estrada, while his daughter Cristal Bagatsing is seeking another term to represent the district in the House of Representatives.
Amado’s nephew, Don Juan Alonzo Bagatsing, is also a reelectionist city councilor in the 4th district.
According to Don Bagatsing, the spokesperson for the family, should they win in the coming local elections, they will help in promoting the programs of Mayor Estrada.
Their priority is giving free health services and decent jobs to the Manileños, to help them have better lives and promote progress in the city.
“We are confident that Manileños will help us and support our programs for a better Manila,” he said.
The Bagatsing family is supported by four organizations with at least 200,000 strong members.
These includes the Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (KABAKA), Asosasyon ng Nagkakaisa at Aktibong Kabataan (ANAK), Asosasyon ng Barangay Kagawad ng Maynila (ABAKA) and Service Investment Good Government Leadership Action (SIGLA).
In the May 2016 elections, then-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte supported Amado in the city’s mayoral race.
Duterte, now the President, said he endorsed Bagatsing because the three-term lawmaker caught his interest and earned his trust because of his good track record and accomplishments within the 5th district of Manila.
Amado, who started as a lawmaker in 1987, was also the executive director of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council from 2002 to 2007. He is a member of several civic organizations like Philippine National Red Cross (Manila Chapter), Domus Mariae Foundation as Board of Director, KABAKA Foundation (Founder), Chamber of Real Estate and Builders (CREBA) and Manila Polo Club.
His father, the late Ramon Delaraga Bagatsing, was the longest-serving mayor of Manila, from 1971 to 1986.