Ruffy Biazon renews bid for Muntinlupa mayoralty

MANILA — Incumbent Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon on Friday filed his certificate of candidacy for a shot at a second term as local chief executive.

With him was Vice Mayor aspirant Allen Ampaya, Muntinlupa Representative Jimmy Fresnedi—who is also seeking re-election—and aspiring councilors for the first and second districts of the city.

They called their slate One Muntinlupa whose aim is anchored on a three-priority agenda — continuity, economic recovery and boosting of health services as well as innovation programs.

Ampaya, however, is a new addition to Biazon’s slate after incumbent Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac decided to “go his own way.”

“Kami ay nagkaroon ng pag-uusap para sa configuration ng aming team. Sa tingin ko meron siyang gustong isulong na sariling direksyon. Yan naman ay karapatan niya. Basta para sa amin maganda na nakasama namin siya sana doon sa bagong configuration namin. Pero decision niya na tumahak ng sariling landas,” Biazon said. 

Former AFP chief, ex-senator Rodolfo Biazon dies at 88

(We talked for the configuration of our team. I think he has his own agenda and direction and that is is right. It would have been better if he joined us for the new configuration but that is his decision, to take a different course.)

Biazon said he was hopeful that One Muntinlupa would receive the same amount of trust and confidence from Muntinlupa voters and see a repeat of a clean sweep during the 2022 elections.

Family shares glimpses of Biazon's private life

Biazon said it remained unclear if Simundac would challenge him in the mayoralty.

“Alam niyo naman ung pagliliingkod, iba-ibang position pwede tayong mag lingkod eh. So kung mag decide siya na lumaban bilang mayor, karapatan niya yan, ginagalang natin. Pero kung ibang position ang nilalalaban niya so be it,” he said. 

(Public service can be done regardless of position. If he decides to run for mayor that is his right and we respect that. But if he runs for a different position, so be it.)

On the fourth day of filing of COC’s, Biazon and the One Muntinlupa slate were so far the only ones to file their documents.

“Matutuwa kami kung ang lalabas ay unchallenged. Pero siyempre may karapatan naman kahit sino ang mag file, yung confidence na lang ng tao sa mga kakandidato,” Biazon said.

(We would be happy if it turns out that we are unchallenged. But of course everyone has a right to file. It would then be up to the public’s confidence in the candidates.