By Claire Morales True

MANILA — It’s a three-way battle for the mayorship of Manila, the country’s capital, in the May 2025 elections but this early all surveys point to a landslide return of former Mayor Francisco Domagoso, more popularly known by his actor’s name Isko Moreno.

Moreno first won by landslide over then reelectionist Mayor and former President Joseph Estrada.

 Moreno is seeking a return goaded by what he and his team said as the clamor of Manilans, especially the seniors, for him to stage of a comeback, pointing out that the city lost its “luster” and citizens lost many benefits during the incumbency of Mayor Sheila Honey Lacuna-Pangan.

The mayoralty battle was initially predicted as a fight between Moreno and Lacuna who were former allies but television host, businessman and party-list Rep. Sam Versoza entered the race.

The vice mayoralty race is also an exciting battle between reelectionist John Marvin Nieto and journalist and TV host Angela Lei Atienza, youngest daughter of former Manila Mayor Jose Lito Atienza Jr.

Moreno’s popularity may carry Chi Atienza to victory in the same way that he carried Lacuna as his vice mayor and later supported her run for mayor.

An independent survey firm, OCTA Research, said if the elections were held today, Moreno will get almost 80 percent of the votes while Lacuna will get only less than 10 percent.

Moreno and his team are being mobbed during their rallies and meetings as they vowed “to make Manila great again.”