Cynthia Villar files COC for Las Piñas representative

Senator Cynthia Villar on Monday filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) to run for representative of Las Piñas City's lone district in the House of Representatives.

Villar — accompanied by her husband, former Senate President Manny Villar, and their children, Senator Mark Villar and outgoing Las Piñas Representative and senatorial aspirant Camille Villar — is running under the Nacionalista Party (NP).

In late July, Cynthia Villar, who is on her last term as senator, said she is either running for Las Piñas City mayor or for a congressional seat.

In an interview after her COC filing, she said she opted to run for a seat in the House of Representatives so she can continue her advocacy in agriculture and environment.

"End term na ako sa Senate sa 2025 and I thought that in Congress, I can continue my advocacy sa agriculture and environment. And at the same time, I can help my constituents sa kanilang more livelihood projects, infrastructure, housing, and environmental protection especially flooding," Villar said.

(I am ending my term in the Senate in 2015 and I think that in Congress, I can continue my advocacy in agriculture and environment and at the same time, I can help my constituents in their livelihood projects, infrastructure, housing, and environmental protection, especially in the problem of flooding.)

Reacting on the calls of her fellow Las Piñas representative contenders to elect new faces and end the supposed political dynasty in the city, Villar said, "Okay lang 'yun. Hindi ko nga sila kilala eh."

(That's okay. I don't even know them.)

"Family kami, but it has been done [by] my father since 1963. Pinamana niya sa amin na mahalin ang Las Piñas. And I thought, it's the memory of my father who really loved Las Piñas when he was alive," Villar said.

(We are a family, but it has been done by my father since 1963. He taught us how to love Las Piñas and I though it's the memory of my father who really loved Las Pinas when he was alive.)

Incumbent Las Piñas City Councilor Mark Anthony Santos is among the aspirants that Villar will face in the race for the city's seat in the House of Representatives. —KBK, GMA Integrated News