Lim to file candidacy for Manila mayor

Senator Alfredo Lim will file his candidacy for mayor of Manila at the Commission on Elections on Monday, radio dzBB reported on Sunday. DzBB quoted Lim as saying that he was sure to win because of an election survey showing that he topped the list of mayoral candidates of Manila. If Lim loses in the May 14 elections, he will continue serving his remaining three-year term at the Senate. Lim earlier said former President Joseph Estrada agreed to endorse him as the Genuine Opposition’s mayoral candidate for Manila. He said his good showing in a survey commissioned by Estrada’s nephew, Ricky de Guzman, bolstered the former president’s decision to pick him for the opposition’s mayoral bet. Lim said former senator Ernesto Maceda confirmed to him Estrada’s decision. The senator quoted Maceda as saying that in the Pulse Asia survey, the opposition saw that Lim was “way, way ahead" of other mayoral aspirants for Manila, especially in the city’s first, second and third districts. "Even the (mayoral) candidate following Lim is a far second," Lim’s statement said, quoting Maceda. Earlier, Estrada said his decision on who to endorse as the opposition's candidate for mayor of Manila would be based on the outcome of a survey that he himself would commission. Before winning a seat in the Senate, Lim was elected mayor of Manila for two consecutive terms, from 1992 to 1998, Last month, Lim named Lito Banayo, former Estrada adviser, as his running mate in the mayoral race. It was earlier reported that Estrada was grooming Banayo for congressman of Manila's fifth district. Among those who earlier expressed plans to run for Manila mayor were former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Arnold "Ali" Atienza, son of incumbent mayor Lito Atienza, incumbent Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna, Manila Reps. Rodolfo Bacani and Joey Hizon and Maria Jimenez, younger sister of former congressman Mark Jimenez. -GMANews.TV