DON’T LOOK NOW BUT AVELINO Razon, the dark horse in the race for Manila mayor, has been getting endorsements from his toughest rivals for the post—incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim and former Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.
Razon himself would not believe it at first but the stories about how Lim and Atienza, who have long been at odds with each other, would openly declare that they would rather see the former Philippine National Police chief win over the other have become too many to ignore.
“I was pleasantly surprised. At first I would not believe it but there have been too many occasions where different persons would tell me they heard Mayor Lim say, ‘If you don’t like me, don’t vote for Mayor Atienza. Vote for Razon,’” the Nationalist People’s Coalition bet told the Inquirer in a recent interview.
“Mayor Atienza was also heard saying, ‘To those who don’t like me, just don’t vote for Lim. I’d rather you go for Razon.’ I really want to thank both of them,” said Razon, erstwhile presidential adviser on the peace process.
He added that it was possible that he has remained in the good graces of the two politicians since he served them both as the city’s chief of police.
Razon headed the Western Police District (now known as the Manila Police District or MPD) during Lim’s second term as mayor from 1996 to 1998. When Atienza took over as mayor from 1998 to 2001, Razon was MPD director.
Razon lamented that his rivals’ campaigns have turned bloody following several instances of violence between their supporters.
“Because of this culture of political vengeance, the city has been left behind by Makati, Pasig, Pasay and even Taguig,” he said.
Should he be elected mayor, Razon said he would do away with “personal and political patronage.”
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