Arroyo, Imelda, Pacquiao spice up local polls

The incumbent president seeking a lower position, allegedly in a bid to become prime minister if Charter change efforts succeed. A boxing champ seeking to redeem himself in the political ring after losing a congressional race three years ago. A former First Lady known for her vast shoe collection working her way back into power by running in her late husband's bailiwick. With such personalities running in various provinces, the local elections in May are bound to be exciting. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Manny Pacquiao, and Imelda Marcos are only three of the nearly 50,000 other politicians gunning for local posts who will officially begin campaigning Friday. until May 8, or two days before election day. Nearly forgotten figures may once again take center stage. Political dynasties may be formed or toppled. Below, GMANews.TV lists down some of the interesting local races in the upcoming elections.

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CONGRESSIONAL RACE Pampanga House race: Arroyo vs Simpao Naysayers believe there is practically no election happening for the congressional post in the second district of Pampanga, but unknown civil society leader Adonis Simpao is dead set on running against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose eldest son Mikey is the incumbent representative. Even in his wildest dreams, Simpao could never hope to raise anything close to P459 million, the amount that the President has reportedly spent for infrastructure projects for the district alone last year, to finance his campaign. Simpao is banking primarily on the people’s desire for change but in Pampanga, where the Arroyos rule, he’ll certainly need all the help he can get.

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Imelda Marcos’ House bid The former First Lady, who was listed among the 10 greediest people that ever lived by Newsweek magazine, wants to reintroduce herself to the political arena – this time as congresswoman of Ilocos Norte’s second district. Imelda is going against Mariano Nalupta Jr., a former governor of the province. After 3,000 pairs of shoes, 20 years as First Lady, billions supposedly pilfered from the government, a failed presidential bid, and a three-year stint as Leyte congresswoman, can Mrs. Marcos count on Ilocos Norte to propel her to the House of Representatives again?

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Sarangani: Pacquiao vs Chiongbian Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao will try his luck again, this time in Sarangani, hometown of wife Jinkee. After getting defeated by incumbent South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio in 2007, the Pacman decided to slug it out with Roy, a member of the influential Chiongbian family and top honcho of Eastern Shipping Lines. Roy is the youngest brother of incumbent Sarangani Rep Erwin Chiongbian.

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GUBERNATORIAL RACE Isabela: Padaca vs. Dy Rep. Faustino "Bojie" Dy III will try to reclaim the top provincial post that his family held for more than three decades before losing it to incumbent Gov. Grace Padaca in 2004. Their fight, deemed the most exciting gubernatorial race in the province yet, is reminiscent of their 2001 match, when Padaca ran—and lost—against Dy for the congressional post. A political analyst said the outcome of the polls would redefine the country’s political history by “prov[ing] or disprov[ing] the idea that reform politics, as exemplified by Gov. Padaca, could win against traditional politics as manifested by the Dy-Albano alliance."

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Pampanga: Panlilio vs Pineda In yet another rematch, former provincial board member Lilia Pineda will again battle it out with priest-turned-Pampanga governor Eddie Panlilio in the province’s gubernatorial race. Just three months before this year’s elections, the Commission on Elections ruled in favor of Pineda’s protest and ousted Panlilio as the duly-elected governor. Pineda, running under Lakas-Kampi CMD, is the wife of businessman Rodolfo “Bong" Pineda, a well-known financier and staunch ally of President Arroyo. Liberal Party’s Panlilio, meanwhile, grabbed headlines after exposing the Palace’s P500,000 cash gift to governors. God may have sent Panlilio, as he himself would put it, but in May, Pampangueños will decide if the divine forces have shifted elsewhere.

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Ilocos Sur: Singson vs Rafanan For the gubernatorial post in Ilocos Sur, Chavit Singson is challenging Efren “Rambo" Rafanan who is allied with former President Joseph Estrada, the political kingpin’s erstwhile ally. It was Singson’s exposé that led to Estrada’s ouster in 2001. Singson had been governor for 26 years. He ran for senator in 2007under the administration ticket but lost. President Arroyo later named him deputy national security adviser, a move criticized by many as her reward to administration allies. Rafanan accused Singson of staging an ambush against him in 2004, but the latter denied the allegation.

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Batangas: Santos vs Sanchez Former Batangas governor Armand Sanchez is seeking to reclaim his post from incumbent Governor Vilma Santos, who defeated him in 2007. Theirs is a battle of the country’s two oldest political parties: Sanchez is with the Nacionalista Party, while the veteran actress shifted her allegiance from the administration to the Liberal Party. Their issues against each other run deep: in 2006, Sanchez narrowly escaped death when a bomb blew up his vehicle. The alleged perpetrator was former vice governor Ricky Recto, brother of Santos’s husband, Ralph Recto. Ricky Recto has gone into hiding.

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Ilocos Norte: Marcos vs Marcos Former Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos, daughter of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, is set to face her cousin, incumbent governor Michael Marcos-Keon of the administration party, in the Ilocos Norte gubernatorial race. The unprecedented clash between the cousins was reportedly caused by differing party colors. According to newspaper reports, Keon said he was admonished by his cousins for making Ilocos Norte mayors support the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party despite the candidacy of Rep. Bongbong Marcos, Imee’s brother, under the Nacionalista Party.

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Maguindanao: Mangudadatu vs Midtimbang vs Sinsuat Despite the November 23 massacre of her wife and relatives, Lakas-Kampi-CMD bet Esmael Mangudadatu pushes through with his gubernatorial campaign. Though some members of his known rival clan - Ampatuan - had been sent behind bars for the carnage, Mangudadatu still faces tough competition from people known to be allied with the Ampatuans. Mangudadatu is going up against Guindulungan mayor Midpantao Midtimbang from the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino, who is the father-in-law of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan; and Mayor Ombra Sinsuat of Datu Odin Sinsuat town, a known ally of the Ampatuans.

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Sulu: Tan vs Misuari Sulu will be the site of a highly-anticipated rematch between incumbent Gov. Abdusakur Tan and former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) head Nur Misuari. Misuari - who founded the secessionist group three decades ago only to sign a peace pact with the government in 1996 - lost to Tan in the 2007 gubernatorial race. This time, Misuari is running under presidential aspirant Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s Bangon Pilipinas party while Tan, who has been governor for three non-consecutive terms, is running under the administration party.

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Basilan: Akbar vs Hataman Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman has decided to step out of the House of Representatives to try his luck as candidate for governor of Basilan under the Liberal Party. Among the Anak Mindanao lawmaker’s rivals for the seat is incumbent governor and Lakas-Kampi-CMD bet Jum Akbar, Basilan’s first ever female governor. Hataman will try to break the uninterrupted run of the Akbars as governors of Basilan. Jum won as governor in 2007, replacing her husband Ustadz Wahab Akbar – a former governor who was killed in the 2007 Batasan Pambansa blast in which Hataman was implicated.

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MAYORAL RACE Manila City: Lim vs Atienza Two bigwigs and former allies will battle it out for the mayoralty race in May: incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim, who held the post from 1992 to 1998, and Lito Atienza, who was mayor of the city for three consecutive terms prior to his appointment as environment secretary in 2007. Lim is running under the Liberal Party-KKK. Atienza broke away from the party in light of the Hello Garci controversy in 2005 and is running under his LP wing. The third player in the race is former Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon Jr. who, like Lim, once served as the city's police chief.

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Makati City: Binay vs. Mercado The mayoralty race in Makati City caught public attention after the long-time allies turned into rivals in the 2010 political contest for the country’s premiere business district. Running under the ticket of Nacionalista Party, Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado will challenge Councilor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. for the city’s top post. Mercado—one of the staunchest supporters of Mayor Jejomar Binay in the past—had earlier been touted as his possible successor. Rumored infighting, however, changed the game plan. The million dollar question is: Can Mercado put an end to the “Binaysty?"

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Quezon City: Defensor vs Bautista vs Mathay vs Susano The battle for the Quezon City’s mayoralty post is sure to heat up as local campaigns begin. Even before the start of the campaign period, mayoralty candidate and former QC Rep. Mike Defensor accused his opponent Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista of having "done nothing" for the city. Bautista hit back at Defensor, saying the former Palace official was behind theft charges filed against him early this year. Also running for the city’s highest post are former Mayor Ismael Mathay Jr. and Rep. Mary Ann Susano.

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Davao City: Duterte vs Nograles Call it the big switch. Davao City Vice Mayor Sara Duterte will vie for the post of her father, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is running for Sara’s current post. The elder Duterte is on his last term as Davao City mayor while bitter political rival House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. is also on his last term as congressman of the city’s first district. Nograles’ son, Karlo, is seeking to replace him and is going against the elder Duterte’s sister, Jocelyn. The political climate in the city is expected to heat up as the elder Nograles vows to put an end to the summary killings allegedly perpetrated by the elder Duterte through the Davao Death Squad.

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Caloocan City: Echiverri vs Asistio It will be a rematch in Caloocan City between incumbent Mayor Enrico Echiverri and former Rep. Luis ‘Baby’ Asistio. In 2007, Asistio slugged it out with Echiverri, who was then seeking his second term, but lost by more than 25,000 votes. This time, Asistio has teamed up with former Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo, whom Echiverri defeated in 2004. The incumbent mayor chose Edgar Erice, one his former mayoral rivals, as his running mate.

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Cainta: Ilagan vs Felix Former TV broadcaster Ramon "Mon" Ilagan ended the Felix family's 57-year reign in 2004 when he beat Nicanor Felix. Ilagan went on to win another term against the clan patriarch, Benjamin Felix, in 2007. Now seeking a third term, Ilagan is up against another son of Benjamin, Wilfredo, the incumbent barangay captain of barangay San Juan. Typhoon Ondoy, which devastated Cainta, tested Ilagan’s ability to address his constituents’ woes. Were his efforts enough for him to win another term, or will Cainta residents bring the Felixes back to power? — GMANews.TV