Three-way Manila mayoral race heats up

Manila, Philippines - The campaign for mayor of the nation’s capital is a three-way race among a re-electionist, a returning official, and a new aspirant with early morning motorcades and culminating in proclamation rallies throughout the day.

A recent OCTA pre-election survey shows former mayor Isko Moreno leading the race with 67% voter preference, followed by businessman-lawmaker and Tutok to Win paty-list Rep. Sam Verzosa at 16% and incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna at 15%.

Lacuna began with a morning mass at Our Lady of Fatima in Bacood, followed by a house-to-house campaign in Sampaloc. She has scheduled a proclamation rally in the same district in the evening.

Moreno held a city-wide motorcade on Road 10 followed by a proclamation rally in the evening in Tondo district.

It was an early morning motorcade as well for Verzosa, and a proclamation rally in the afternoon also in Tondo.

Other candidates are actor Raymond Bagatsing for Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and father-son tandem Michael and Solomon Say for mayor and vice mayor, respectively.

Independent candidates Jerry Garcia, Alvin Karingal, Jopor Ocampo, Enrico Reyes, Mahrah Tamondong, and Ervin Tan are also in the race.

From running mates to rivals

Lacuna, a doctor by profession, is seeking reelection with Vice Mayor Yul Servo. She was handpicked by Moreno as successor when he ran for president in 2022 but lost to President Bongbong Marcos.

In an interview with NewsWatch Plus in October, Lacuna said Moreno assured her he would retire from politics after his presidential bid. She admitted feeling betrayed but said she still considers Moreno her "little brother."

“Okay lang kung ibang tao. Pero ‘yun na nga gaya po ng nabanggit ko mukhang nagkaroon ng change of heart sa anuman hong kadahilanan na hanggang ngayon, wala naman po kaming makitang klarong dahilan kaya ho nalulungkot kami,” she said in the interview.

[Translation: It would have been fine if it were someone else. But like I said, there seems to have been a change of heart for reasons that remain unclear to us until now, which is why we are saddened.]

Moreno has largely avoided addressing Lacuna’s remarks. When asked by reporters about it during the filing of certificates of candidacy last year, he simply responded, “Peace be with you.”

Before his Friday motorcade, Moreno urged fellow candidates to keep the campaign clean.

“Sabihin niyo na lang kung anong gagawin niyo don’t engage in mudslinging and other unnecessary things na makakasakit ng kapwa o kalaban,” he said.

[Translation: Just tell the voters what you plan to do. Don’t engage in mudslinging or anything that could hurt others or your opponents.]

When asked if he is running for the long term, Moreno said he is prepared for a decade of leadership.

“Isang dekada po ito, may awa po ang Diyos,” he said.

[Translation: This will be for a decade, God willing.]

Verzosa, meanwhile, said he is ready to take on Manila’s political heavyweights.

"Buong buhay ko David tayo eh. Hanggang dito na lang daw ako sa Sampaloc. Walang asenso at hindi ka uunlad. Hindi raw lalaki ang kumpanya ko. Hindi raw ako makaka-graduate. Pero nagsikap ako," he said during a charity event last September.

[Translation: My whole life, I’ve been a David (against Goliath). They said I would never go beyond Sampaloc, that I wouldn’t progress, that my company wouldn’t grow, and that I wouldn’t graduate. But I persevered.]

The self-made businessman has vowed to shake up Manila politics.

With over one million registered voters, according to the latest Commission on Elections data, the city is preparing for one of its most competitive mayoral races in recent years.