Quezon City Rep. Annie Rosa Susano

MANILA - The mayoral race for Quezon City is shaping up to be a three-way race among Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista Jr., Quezon City Rep. Annie Rosa Susano and former Presidential Management Staff chief Michael Defensor.

Susano and her running mate, Councilor Janet Malaya, went the colorful route by coming to the local Commission on Elections office Tuesday on board a carriage bedecked with roses.

In an interview, Susano vowed not to raise taxes if she wins next year's election for Quezon City mayor. "Wait for it -- I will not be your mayor, the people will be the mayor. We will have a pavilion here that will cater to your needs 24 hours a day," she told reporters after filing her certificate of candidacy.

She said she will also bankroll a movie on the Payatas mudslide tragedy and then donate the proceeds to the poor of Quezon City. She also denied claims that many city hall employees would be retrenched if she is proclaimed mayor.

Susano shook hands with her opponent Bautista who arrived at the Comelec office with his running mate, Joy Belmonte, daughter of incument Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr.
Belmonte and Bautista earlier left the administration Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats and sided with the Liberal Party.

Councilor Aiko Melendez also filed her certificate of candidacy for the vice-mayoral post. Asked about rumors that she would be the running mate of Defensor, she said: "Read between the lines."

Defensor later confirmed via text message that he would be running for mayor of Quezon City with Melendez as running mate. "Yes, Aiko has nine years of experience. She led the appropriations committee, which has a major task in the city council," he told ABS-CBN.

He added that he will file his COC before midnight. With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News