Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — With a promise of a fresh start, Makati City acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña has asked his supporters to help put him in the city’s top post.
The elected vice mayor filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Monday (October 12).
Before he headed to Comelec, he laid out his plans for the city before thousands of supporters.
More benefits for senior citizens, bigger bonuses for public officials, and free Internet in the city are among Peña’s priorities in his agenda.
“Ang lahat ng yaman at kagamitan ng lungsod ng Makati ang dapat makinabang [ay] ang mamamayan ng Makati muna,” he said.
Peña was sworn in as acting mayor of Makati on June 30 after Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. was suspended over his involvement in the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II.
Last Friday, the Ombudsman dismissed and barred Binay from holding public office for the same allegations.
Binay, however, does not see why the decision should stop him from seeking reelection.
“Walang dahilan because the decision of the office of the Ombudsman, hindi naman ito final judgement. We can still appeal the case,” he said.
Peña said Binay should think about the repercussions of his actions.
He said he wouldn’t mind running against Binay or any member of the family that had been dominating local politics in Makati for years.
Peña, who is a member of the ruling Liberal Party, has neophyte Karla Mercado as his running mate.
Karla Mercado is the daughter of Ernesto Mercado, former Makati vice mayor, who turned against his former boss and exposed anomalies in city hall.
Mercado also filed her CoC on Monday.
Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista said Binay may still file his CoC, but his office must enforce the Ombudsman’s order, unless stopped by a higher court.
