Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim hopes to make a comeback for the mayoral post of the country’s capital. He filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Tuesday (October 13).
Related: PHOTOS: Filing of certificates of candidacy Day 2 (October 13)
Donning a yellow polo shirt with former President Corazon Aquino’s picture printed on the left chest, Lim and his supporters began their walk from the foot of the late president’s statue on Roxas Boulevard up to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Arroceros, Manila.
He filed his COC with his running mate, Manila Rep. Benjamin “Atong” Asilo. Both are running under the Liberal Party.
Lim is also known as “Dirty Harry” for his no-nonsense approach against criminals. His stint as mayor ended when he lost to former President Joseph Estrada in 2013.
When asked about his plans to again govern Manila, Lim has this in mind: “‘Wag magnakaw ng kuwarta ng bayan. ‘Yan ang aming battlecry. Ako 54 years in the government service, kahit minsan di ako nademanda sa pagnanakaw sa pera ng bayan.”
[Translation: “Don’t steal from the people. That’s our battlecry. I have been in government service for 54 years, not once was I charged for stealing from government coffers.”]
The former mayor added that he would prioritize giving free hospital and medical services, in addition to free college education.
Also on Tuesday at the Manila City Hall, Estrada named his candidates under the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino party. Estrada will seek re-election and he along with his partymates are reported to file their COCs on Wednesday (October 14).
But Estrada said that, if opposition presidential candidates Sen. Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay should be disqualified before October 16, he would withdraw his mayoralty bid and run for president instead.
