'Honey' bitter over Isko 'betrayal'

MANILA Mayor Honey Lacuna said it is not only her but all Manileños who felt betrayed by former mayor Francisco Domagoso's sudden decision to run again as the city's chief executive, despite his earlier assurances that he would retire from politics. Lacuna, who filed her certificate of candidacy (CoC) on Thursday seeking a second term, said Domagoso previously gave his assurance that he would retire from politics after losing his bid for the presidency. "Before he left Manila (as mayor), it was very clear to us, [Vice Mayor John Marvin Nieto], our entire party [Asenso Manileño] even to the Manileños that he would not run again," said Lacuna in an interview, after she and Nieto filed their CoCs at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) satellite office in SM Manila. "This was very clear to us and he always mentioned it. So when he suddenly said that he intends to run again, we wondered what was the real reason why he would come back," she added. Lacuna said Domagoso first mentioned to her his intention to run again as Manila mayor sometime in August 2024. "We talked once, but we never talked again," the incumbent Manila mayor said. "He informed me that he is planning to run. I did not have any reaction to this at that time." With their impending clash in next year's polls, Lacuna said she wished her "brother" luck. "I wish him well, good luck to him if he does decide to run again," she said. Domagoso served as the 23rd mayor of Manila from 2019 to 2022. He ran for president in 2022 but lost, managing only 1.9 million votes to then Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s 31.6 million votes and then-vice president Leni Robredo's 15 million. Lacuna, on the other hand, ran for mayor in the same year, with Domagoso endorsing her bid. The former Manila mayor is said to be planning to file his CoC on Tuesday, October 8. In an interview on Thursday at the Comelec National Capital Region (NCR) office in San Juan City, Domagoso said he will let Manila voters respond to the statements made by his former running mate. "I'll just let the people of Manila answer," he said when asked to issue his comments on what Lacuna said. "Peace be with you," he added, addressing the current Manila mayor. Domagoso also described his relations with Lacuna as "good." "Oh yes. It's okay," he said when asked if he is getting along with the mayor. He said that it is part of his character to just let his accomplishments do the talking. "You know, for me, I will only present what I have done and am still able to do, particularly in Tondo," said Domagoso. Lacuna, on the other hand, vowed to continue serving under the principle of good and honest governance that is centered on the delivery of more basic services for the most needy sectors, especially senior citizens. "We will definitely win. We will not engage in mudslinging because we were not raised by our parents to malign other people," she said. Lacuna said together with Nieto, she will continue the centerpiece program of their administration, the social amelioration program, which provides monthly financial assistance to senior citizens, solo parents, persons and minors with disability and university students from the two city-run colleges. "During the previous administration, some programs were only started. I completed and continued them, and up to now, I am still responsible for those projects," she said. Lacuna and Nieto will run under Asenso Manileño, the dominant local political party in Manila. Also running under the Asenso Manileño ticket for the city's congressional posts are former 1st District representative Manny Lopez and incumbents Rolando Valeriano (2nd District), Joel Chua (3rd District), Irwin Tieng (5th District) and Bienvenido Abante (6th District). Incumbent 4th District Rep. Edward Maceda's wife, Giselle, will seek to replace him after he reaches the three-term limit.