THE BATTLE for Manila’s mayoralty has become a three-way contest among familiar faces: the city’s two most recent mayors and a sitting congressman looking to shake up City Hall.
In an April Octa Research voter preference survey, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso led with a commanding 63% support, well ahead of his former vice mayor, incumbent Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, who garnered 18%.
Trailing closely behind Lacuna is Tutok To Win party-list Rep. Sam Verzosa, who ranked third with 16%.
The same trio topped the Varsitarian’s survey of 1,224 students from UST, though name recognition for the candidates was low, with 39% of respondents unfamiliar with them. Still, Domagoso led with 38% of student support, followed by Lacuna at 18%, and Verzosa with 4%.
All three candidates, however, have been issued show-cause orders by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) over alleged vote-buying: Domagoso allegedly gave P3,000 to public school teachers; Verzosa was cited for distributing items branded with his initials “SV”; and Lacuna faced questions over the alleged misuse of social welfare funds.
Here’s a closer look at the three candidates leading the race for Manila’s top office.
Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso
Running under the banner “Make Manila Great Again,” actor-turned-politician Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is seeking a return to city hall after a failed bid for the presidency in 2022. He served as mayor from 2019 to 2022 and as vice mayor for three terms from 2007 to 2016.
Domagoso has vowed to restore cleanliness, discipline, and order in the capital if elected.
In an exclusive interview with the Varsitarian, Domagoso also pledged to amend City Ordinance 8793, the contentious health permit policy passed during his first term amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
READ: Isko vows swift amendments to controversial Manila health ordinance
The policy sparked backlash, particularly among UST faculty, after the university implemented it stringently, leading to non-renewal of some non-tenured instructors who failed to comply.
During his time as Manila mayor, Domagoso was allied with Lacuna, who was then his vice mayor. Lacuna succeeded him in 2022, becoming Manila’s first female mayor.
But their alliance has since fractured, with Domagoso launching a comeback campaign that pits him directly against Lacuna for the mayoralty. Days before filing her candidacy, she accused Domagoso of “betrayal” for attempting a political return.
During his term, Domagoso launched housing projects like BaseCommunity, Tondominium, and Binondominium, along with urban beautification programs such as Manila Lawton Hidden Garden and the revamped Lagusnilad Underpass.
He also earned praise for clearing the city’s streets of informal vendors and illegally built structures.
In a March radio interview, Domagoso touted his administration’s response during the Covid-19 pandemic titled “CODE-M” (Contain, Delay, Mitigate), which he said was adopted by other local government units.
But his political track record isn’t spotless. As vice mayor, Domagoso faced multiple controversies — including allegations of hiring “ghost” employees, a plunder case over property taxes, and an arrest linked to illegal bingo operations.
He is running under Aksyon Demokratiko, dubbed “Yorme’s Choice,” with Chi Atienza as his vice mayoral candidate.
Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan
Incumbent Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, a physician and longtime public servant, is seeking reelection with a platform focused on continuity and progress.
A graduate of UST’s College of Science and a former resident doctor at Ospital ng Maynila, Lacuna became the capital’s first female mayor after succeeding Domagoso in 2022.
She also served as a public health physician under the Department of Health for nearly a decade. She entered politics as vice mayor before rising to the city’s top post.
Some of her key achievements include reducing Manila’s P17-billion debt by P2 billion and earning the city its first Seal of Good Local Governance in 2023. Lacuna has promised that her reelection would sustain this momentum.
However, her term also faced criticism over the health certificate controversy. The enforcement of Ordinance 8793, which originated during Domagoso’s term, drew ire from groups like UST’s employee unions.
The sanitation compliance dispute escalated into protests and fueled accusations of weak public health systems.
Lacuna’s administration also came under fire in late 2024 due to garbage collection issues. She blamed Leonel Waste Management Corp. for ending services prematurely before their contract expired on Dec. 31, a move she said led to a 400% surge in holiday trash.
The contractor denied the allegation, asserting it fulfilled its duties and claiming Manila owes it over P561 million.
Lacuna is running under the Lakas-CMD party with incumbent Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto.
Samuel “SV” Verzosa Jr.
Branding himself as “Batang Sampaloc,” Tutok To Win party-list Rep. Sam Verzosa is campaigning on a platform focused on livelihood, education, and healthcare for Manila residents.
The UST Angelicum alumnus has authored several House bills since 2022. These include proposals for a no-homework policy, the creation of e-learning hubs, and discounts on government documents for job seekers. He also filed a bill to regulate online pharmacies and combat counterfeit medicine.
Widely known as “SV,” Verzosa is the co-founder of Frontrow, a well-known multi-level marketing firm.
His mayoral pitch includes increasing senior citizens’ monthly stipends from P500 to P2,000, enhancing public education, and making healthcare more accessible and free throughout the city.
Verzosa is running as an independent candidate.
