IT looks there’s no stopping for ageing and graduating Senator Cynthia Villar to seek a local post surely in her hometown – Las Piñas City – but this time it’s no longer a walk in the park as it appears that even her nearest kin would go against her.
And we heard it loud and clear that her very own niece, incumbent Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Neri, is determined to seek the city’s top post which is currently being held by her mother – Mayor Imelda Aguilar- who’s already on her last and third term.
“I’m ready and prepared to face my Aunt Cynthia for mayoralty race this coming midterm elections,” according to the vice mayor, who is leading by a wide margin against the senator in several local and national surveys.
Aguilar-Neri is the eldest daughter of the incumbent mayor and late mayor Nene Aguilar, the senator’s younger brother.
The 74-year-old wife of former senator Manny Villar seems to be enjoying her political life and maybe just seeking for an entitlement instead of simply being called Mrs. Villar or the ex-senator, hence her desire to run for a local elective post against anyone, against a relative.
Should she decide to run for a congressional seat, her brother’s former chief of staff and incumbent District 1 Councilor Mark Anthony Santos, would surely be her strongest rival who appears to have solid support from the local electorate for his being youthful and full of bright ideas for the city.
A promising and smart kid on the block, Santos is simply the author of the 2023 council resolution that sought to collect delinquent real property taxes amounting to P213.55 million to the five companies owned or managed by the Villar.
According to Santos, the Villar group of companies still owes the city government more than P70-million in taxes and penalties.
He also claimed that the Mella Hotel in C5 Extension Road, also in the city, has not paid even a single centavo of real property tax since it was opened to the public five years ago.
Her personal and political desire has not been taken lightly by the local folks who wanted her to retire from politics and instead give the other younger politicians a chance to lead the city.
“Yung iba naman. Nakauumay na,” said some city hall employees, adding that she’s already old and must enjoy her remaining years away from political life.
