By Ritchie A Horario /Manila Times

While the campaign period for local elections has yet to start, mudslinging and black propaganda are becoming a regular feature and the order of the day in Parañaque City.

Councillor Florencio “Benjo” Ber­nabe, who is running in the mayoralty race on Friday lambasted his opponent, Rep  Edwin Olivarez of the First District of Paranaque, for allegedly spreading rumours that he failed to meet the age requirement for the mayoralty post. Benjo, the son of outgoing Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr of Paranaque, will be fighting it out with Olivarez, who is a son of former mayor Pablo Olivarez of this city. While the campaign is about to start, the younger Bernabe has criticised Olivarez for allegedly spreading rumours that he failed to meet the age requirement for the mayoralty post.

Citing Section 39 of the 1991 Local Government Code, the 37-year-old Bernabe pointed out that candidates for mayor of a highly urbanised city, such as Parañaque, should at least be 23-years-old on election day.

Olivarez is 44. “Just as I have filed my COC (certificate of candidacy), our political rivals have started with their smear campaign,” Bernabe said. Bernabe filed his candidacy in October, with Jose Enrico Golez, son of incumbent Rep. Roilo Golez of the Second District of Parañaque as his running mate. Both are running under the banner of United Nationalist Alliance. Olivarez, meanwhile, will be running with Councillor Edwin Benzon under the Liberal party-led coalition. His father, Pablo also unsuccessfully tried to retake the mayoralty seat in 2010 but lost against incumbent mayor Bernabe.