After his loss in the 2010 vice presidential polls, Bayani Fernando is back in the limelight. This time, the former Marikina mayor and erstwhile chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority is seeking a congressional seat for Marikina’s frst district in the 2016 elections.
A source in Fernando’s camp confirmed that he has “indeed filed a Certificate of Candidacy before the Comelec-NCR office in Intramuros through a Special Power of Attorney last week.”
(By Joshua Lim (Sky Harbor), via Wikimedia Commons)
Fernando will be pitted against Sam Ferriol of the Liberal Party, who will be vying for the same post to be vacated by Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro, who is running for the mayoral post against the incumbent Del de Guzman.
In a last-minute move, Teodoro, and former Vice Mayor Marion Andres filed their Certificate of Candidacy before the local Comelec on Friday afternoon under the banner of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, facing Liberal incumbents De Guzman, Vice Mayor Jose Fabian Cadiz, and Second District Rep. Romero Quimbo, who filed their CoC also on Friday.
Sources in the Fernando camp said that he “plans to initiate legislative reforms that the city of Marikina needs” in the halls of Congress.
De Guzman, who is now on his third and final term as city mayor, had a “falling out” with Fernando after De Guzman sought the mayoral post vacated by Fernando’s wife—former Mayor Marides Fernando in 2010.
In 2010, the Fernando couple supported the mayoral bid of then Vice Mayor Marion Andres to succeed them over their political “protege”—De Guzman.
After his failed bid in the 2010 VP race, placing third against Vice President Jejomar Binay of Makati, Fernando focused on his construction and metal fabrication business.
As MMDA chairman during the Arroyo administration, Fernando became notable for his signature “pink” urinals and other projects of the MMDA. He built U-Turn slots on many major roads, increased the number of pedestrian overpasses at road intersections (called footbridges), pioneered radio broadcasting for the MMDA, embarked on sidewalk clearing operations, and revitalized the assets and fleet of the government agency.