ANGLES CITY, Pampanga—Sen. Manuel Lapid, a movie actor-turned politician, announced here his plans to run for mayor of Angeles City in the May 2016 elections.
Lapid and his vice-mayoralty candidate Willy Rivera made the announcement during a meeting with his political leaders at the Angeles Fried Chicken and said they have the support of Pampanga Rep. Carmelo Lazatin.
“Lapid announced his plans and raised the arms of other candidates during the meeting attended by bigwigs in local politics,” said Deng Pangilinan, Lapid’s public relations officer.
The senator is a resident of Porac but he transferred to Angeles City to qualify to run for mayor in 2016. He was former vice-governor, three-term governor before winning a seat in the Senate.
The announced was expected to affect the political landscape in the city. Lapid and Rivera will be facing the incumbent mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, who will be running for re-election.
Barangay Balibago chairman Rodelio Mamac, the chairman of President Aquino’s Liberal Party in Angeles City, who ran for vice mayor and lost in the 2013 elections, said he will contest the vice-mayoralty post again in 2016.
“I’m going to try my luck again,” he said.