Most Metro Manila mayors, vice mayors eligible for reelection in 2016

MANILA, Philippines – Most areas in Metro Manila may end up with the same leaders after the 2016 elections.

At least 13 mayors and 14 vice mayors in 16 cities and one municipality in the National Capital Region (NCR) have a chance at reelection in the 2016 polls as far as their term eligibility is concerned.

Just like congressmen and governors, mayors and vice mayors are only allowed by the 1987 Constitution to serve for 3 consecutive terms in office. Each term lasts 3 years.

For Metro Manila mayors, 6 of them are first-termers, and 7 are second-termers.

While Peña was elected vice mayor in 2013, he was sworn in as acting mayor after the suspension of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay. Binay was earlier suspended by the Ombudsman over graft allegations involving overpriced buildings in Makati. (READ: DILG serves suspension order vs Junjun Binay and DILG receives 2nd suspension order vs Mayor Binay)  

Binay, who was on his second term in office before his removal, is expected to file his candidacy next week. But the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Binay from service and his perpetual disqualification from public office. (READ: Ombudsman orders dismissal of Junjun Binay)

Only Mayors Aguilar (Las Piñas), Abalos (Mandaluyong City), and Medina (Pateros) are no longer qualified to run for reelection as they are all currently on their third consecutive terms as mayors of their respective cities. They will have to look elsewhere if they want to run for public office after the end of their current term.

Among the mayors eligible for reelection are Gatchalian (Valenzuela City) who faces criminal raps over the Kentex factory fire incident in May, and Cayetano (Taguig City) who was indicted in August by the Ombudsman for padlocking the city session hall.

Estrada (Manila) may likely run for reelection, as he had already indicated he will not be running for president in 2016. Things could still change, hower.

Vice Mayors

Meanwhile, 8 vice mayors are first-termers, and 5 are second-termers.

Magpantay, who garnered the highest number of votes among all councilors in the 2013 elections, replaced Peña as vice mayor.

No longer eligible for re-election in 2016 are Simundac (Muntinlupa City) Martinez (Valenzuela City), and Moreno (Manila City) as they currently are on their third consecutive terms.

Moreno has endorsed former Manila Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna for the 2016 vice mayoral race. He has also resigned as Manila’s traffic czar, possibly for a 2016 senatorial bid.

While Zamora (San Juan City) is still eligible for reelection next year, he may possibly be up against incumbent Mayor Gomez in the upcoming elections.

The filing of candidacy for the 2016 elections will run from October 12 to 16. – Rappler.com