ELECTION WATCH: Herbert Bautista or Willie Revillame for Quezon City mayor?

Quezon City, the country's richest business-friendly city collected P9.8 billion in taxes in 2008. Next year, the mayoral post of that city is up for grabs. TV host Willie Revillame and current Q.C. Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista are said to be gearing up fo

Author: Elyas Isabelo Salanga

Quezon City is set to make showbiz history this coming 2010 if two TV and movie personalities battle it out in next year's elections for the coveted seat of Mayor of Quezon City.

Wowowee host Willie Revillame and former actor and current Q.C. Vice-Mayor Herbert "Bistek" Bautista are said to be the players, though both have yet to publicly announce their political plans. Sources of the daily paper Manila Bulletin claim that "Bautista is 100 percent sure of running in next year's elections while Revillame, about 70 percent."

The sources added that Herbert may run under the Liberal Party whose standard bearer right now is presidential candidate Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino Jr.

Now if Willie decides to run, he would do so with Joy Belmonte, daughter of Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" R. Belmonte. She denied the news, however, in the following text message to YES! Editor-in-Chief Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon:

"I'm running as vice-mayor of Herbert Bautista, who's already been endorsed by my father Feliciano Belmonte as his choice to be the next QC mayor. Bautista served as my father's vice mayor for 9 years. Both Bistek and my dad are with LAKAS. I have not yet joined any political party. I have never even met Willie."

HERBERT SPEAKS UP ABOUT WILLIE. Herbert himself doubted that Joy would ever run with Willie. As he told PEP, "'Yong kay Joy, I doubt it. Sa tignin ko, basta Joy and I, we may not belong in the same party, but we are the team. Kami ang magka-team talaga. I'm running for mayor and she's running for vice-mayor."

Concerning Willie and his likely decision to run against him, Vice- Mayor Bautista said, "Well, this is the first time I heard of it. And I think, you know, if Willie is seriously running, that is his privilege, his right. I think all of us have that right.

"But, siyempre, para sa akin, sana huwag na lang kasi 'yong time naman at saka magkaibigan kami, e. 'Tapos, 'yong time that I've spent serving the people of Quezon City for 25 years is already, siguro, an indicator that I'm already prepared also in serving the people of Quezon City."

EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE. Herbert first became Vice-Mayor of Q.C. during the term of Ismael Mathay Jr. from 1995-1998. He won the seat again three years later in 2001 and has held the position up to now. The 2010 elections will be Herbert's first time to run for mayor.

Similarly, it would be Willie's first time to run for public office, if ever he decides to run. According to Herbert, even a newcomer with the status Willie has right now means that the TV host has a chance to win, although it would be better if Willie would just support Herbert.

"Malaki naman ang chances niya, e," assessed Herbert. "Everybody, perhaps, would support him, would vote for him. He's also a nice guy. If you'll get to know him talaga, mabait na tao 'yan. Kaya nga, I just hope na...of his heart, that he may find that I'm also here. He'd rather support me than run for mayor. "

Has Willie ever hinted that he would really run for mayor?

"No. Hindi, e," said Herbert. "In fact, this is the first time I've heard of it. There were some stories a week ago when the storm started or even two weeks ago, that partly si Kris [Aquino] made mention of, 'Willie, ikaw na lang ang tumakbong mayor sa Quezon City.' I never reacted to that kasi parang... It's fun actually. It was said in jest, so hindi ko naman sineseryoso 'yon. I do hope na both of them, more specifically Willie, do not take that seriously as well."

SHOWBIZ SUPPORT. Herbert added that people in show business have said that they would support him. He declined, however, to identify those people out of respect for their privacy.But he said that Tito, Vic, and Joey were with him and hinted that he has a lot of supporters from the Viva, Regal, and Seiko film companies.

"Well, they're pulling themselves already together," Herbert shared. "I'd rather not mention their names kasi baka maipit naman sila, di ba? Those that I've worked with for the past several years in the entertainment industry are supportive of our intention to run for mayor in Quezon City."

Herbert added that everyone he worked with, and not even others who didn't, will support him because he feels that he is a big brother (kuya) to them.

So, is he confident since many in the showbiz industry are now siding with him?

"Well, I don't want to say na baka naman sabihin na nagyayabang ako," said Herbert. "I feel confident, yes."

THE REAL POLITICAL ARENA. As Herbert firmly cements his campaign with support from showbiz, are there any tandems looming that may be considered a threat?

"Well, lahat naman ng mga tandems, kapag nabuo na nila 'yan. Although hindi pa final, but they are working together already. Si Congresswoman [Mary Ann] Susano and Councilor [Janet] Babes Malaya, they are positioning themselves as a team. Lahat naman sila, e, capable and qualified."

How much does it matter that Mayor Sonny Belmonte backs him up? "100 percent," Herbert replied. That's a big plus for his campaign.

"The mayor has about 35 to 40 percent endorsement power, above voters, ha," he explained. In terms of the voting population in Quezon City, he added, "That's about 1.1 or 1.150 [voters]. Presidential elections, especially now na automation na tayo, papalo siguro 'yan ng mga 80 to 85 percent."

READY FOR IT. Herbert has been in Quezon City's political field for many years now and he feels that now is the right time to move forward and handle bigger responsibilities. He feels ready for the task. "Yeah. I guess there are lessons too that I've learned and there are a lot of things to learn. The experience, the educational background, the preparation is there naman."

Source: Philippine Entertainment Portal