Politics in Muntinlupa is heading into a new direction.

Incumbent Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi is running for congressman in the lone district of the city while incumbent Rep. Ruffy Biazon is gunning to become the next mayor.

Incumbent Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (left) will run for congressman while incumbent Rep. Ruffy Biazon (right) will run for mayor in Muntinlupa under One Muntinlupa unity party (Jonathan Hicap)

Under the One Muntinlupa unity party, Fresnedi and Biazon filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) Friday with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Fresnedi is in his third and final term as mayor and opted to run for congressman. Biazon, on the other hand, is in his second term as congressman and chose to vie for mayor.

According to Biazon, One Muntinlupa means economic gains and best practices in the last nine years will continue.

“Mas makakampante ngayon ang ating mga kababayang Muntinlupeño sa harap ng pandemya (Muntinlupeños can be more confident in the face of the pandemic), said Biazon. “The services such as scholarships, benefits, and relief packages that have helped many of our kababayan survive will definitely continue. Together, we will survive and overcome.”

Fresnedi, who served six terms as mayor from 1998 to 2007 and from 2013 to present, said, “Elections tend to cause significant uncertainty in the people, which is why they can be divisive as voters choose candidates they think can make life better for them.”

“By joining our vision and resources, Congressman Biazon and I make sure that the benefits that Muntinlupeños have enjoyed for the last nine years will continue, and can even be made better,” he said.

Under Fresnedi’s leadership, Muntinlupa experienced economic and social growth and was recognized as the Most Business-Friendly LGU by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

He implemented his Eight-Point Program of Governance which prioritized education, health care, and economic development, driven by numerous scholarships and training programs and the construction of schools and health facilities.

After the 1986 EDSA Revolution, Fresnedi was appointed municipal attorney and later as officer-in-charge-vice mayor. He was elected as vice mayor in the 1988 election and served for three terms until 1998.

Biazon is serving his fifth term as Muntinlupa’s congressman. He was first elected as congressman in 2001 and finished three terms in 2010. He ran and won again in the 2016 and 2019 elections.

To date, Biazon has filed more than a hundred proposed measures and various resolutions on defense and security, local governance and public order, poverty alleviation and social justice, education, environment, agriculture, housing, maritime and air and land transportation and safety.

From 2011 to 2013, Biazon served as commissioner of the Bureau of Customs wherein he pushed for the passage of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (Republic Act No. 10863).

Joining Biazon and Fresnedi in One Muntinlupa is incumbent Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac who is running for reelection.

The party’s candidates for councilors are: District 1 - Coun. Atty. Raul Corro, Coun. Allan Rey Camilon, Coun. Paty Katy Boncayao, Coun. Alexson Diaz, Coun. Ting Niefes, Rachel Arciaga, and Jedi Presnedi; and District 2 - Coun. Francis Ian Bagatsing, Coun. Mark Lester Baes, Coun. Engr. Marissa Rongavilla, Coun. Engr. Arlene Hilapo, Coun. Engr. Mamerto Sevilla Jr., Coun. Cornelio Martinez, Luvi Constantino and Letty Santiago.

All the candidates of the One Muntinlupa unity party (contributed photo)

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Team One Muntinlupa: Fresnedi runs for congressman; Biazon for mayor