The political landscape of Manila is heating up as incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna and former Mayor Isko Moreno are poised for a direct confrontation in the upcoming 2025 mayoral elections.
Lacuna, who served as Moreno’s vice mayor during his term, formally announced her re-election bid on August 27, with Vice Mayor Yul Servo as her running mate. Meanwhile, Moreno is rumored to be running under his Aksyon Demokratiko party.
In a recent statement, Lacuna expressed respect for Moreno’s decision but urged him to reconsider his political plans for 2025.
Lacuna, currently in her first term, is confident that the residents of Manila will grant her another three years to continue the programs she initiated for the city.
Lacuna claimed that it would take 20 years for Manila to pay off the P17.8 billion debt incurred during Moreno’s administration. She added that her administration has already paid P2.5 billion of this debt.
Meanwhile, Isko appeared to mock Honey by singing and questioning the delayed announcement of class and work suspensions amidst heavy rainfall due to Typhoon Enteng.
Around 1:00 AM on Monday, Domagoso posted on Facebook, asking when the suspension would be announced.
“It’s been raining in Manila; why hasn’t the suspension been declared?” Isko said in his post.
In response to the debt issue, Yorme (Moreno) remarked, “If they’re complaining about the debt we left behind, then they should step aside, and I’ll handle the debt repayment.”
(Kung nagrereklamo sila na marami tayong utang, e di umalis sila diyan, ako magbabayad ng utang.)