MANILA, 17 October 2006 — No, it’s not former first lady Imelda Marcos who is contesting the mayorship of Manila in next year’s election; it’s her grandson, Borgy Manotoc, the son of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos.
Imee yesterday said she convinced her mother to drop her plan and give the 23-year-old Borgy a shot at one of the most-coveted political posts in the country.
Imee said her mother not only agreed to give way but also volunteered to campaign for her grandson, who is a model by profession.
“My Mom figured that since she wasn’t getting any younger that it should be Borgy who runs and she be the campaign manager,” she told ABS-CBN television network.
The local media has named at least six aspirants for the post, minus incumbent Mayor Lito Atienza, who is barred from seeking a new term when his third term in office ends next year.
Reportedly eyeing the post are senators Alfredo Lim and Panfilo Lacson, Rep. Joey Hizon of the the city’s 5th district, Vice Mayor Danny Lacuña, multimillionaire former congressman Mark Jimenez, and Mayor Atienza’s son Ali.
All, including Ali Atienza, are considered veteran politicians.
But Imee said her family is convinced that with her mother’s endorsement, her son would put up a good fight.
She said the former first lady still has a strong influence among people in Manila’s poor communities, which she had helped when she was governor of the metropolitan Manila during the regime of her late husband Ferdinand Marcos.
“Having my mom as Borgy’s campaign manager, he will definitely get a solid vote in Manila particularly in Sampaloc, Pandacan, Tondo, Quiapo, Binondo, Sta. Cruz, San Miguel and other barangays in the city,” she said.
“With Borgy, it’s like having Imelda Marcos run as mayor of Manila,” she said, adding that Borgy’s “lineage and roots” were all from Manila starting from his father, sportsman Tommy Manotoc, and his grandparents who were all from Tondo.
Imee said her son attract support from Manila’s huge number of young voters, in addition to the drawing power of her mother.
Asked what his son could offer by taking on the helm of the nation’s capital, Imee said Borgy is amply prepared to govern and “mature enough” to handle the pressures of politics.
Borgy has studied advertising and public relations, modeled for various products, and is a campaigner for animal rights.
