Aiko Melendez to run in 2022 elections

Actress-politician Aiko Melendez confirmed that she is vying for a post in Congress in the 2022 elections.

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Having served as a Quezon City councilor in the past, Aiko shared in an interview with ABS-CBN News that a lot of people have been encouraging her to run for Congress.

“Mas marami talagang nag-uudyok sa akin na tumakbo bilang kongresista,” the actress said.

On why she wants to snag a seat in the House of Representatives, Aiko explained that she wants to “level up” her work in the public service sector.

“Kasi nga 9 years akong naging konsehal, na-experience ko na ‘yon, gusto ko namang mag-level up sa public service,” she said.

While she never stopped serving the public, the 45-year-old actress said she wants to find her way back to what she used to do for the constituents of Quezon City.

“I’ve always been behind the scenes, I want to go back to that direction,” she said.

Meanwhile, Aiko made it clear that she will not be running against her fellow actor and son of actress Sylvia Sanchez, Arjo Atayde.

Aiko said Arjo is vying for a seat in the first district of Quezon City while she is eyeing for a Congressional post in the fifth district in the City of Stars.

“Sylvia [Sanchez] told me sa District 1 siya for congress; ako District 5,” she remarked.

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According to ABS-CBN News, Melendez’s boyfriend Jay Khonghun — the Vice Governor of the Province of Zambales – currently handles her political affairs.

She first ran as councilor for the second district of Quezon City in 2001. She served as City Councilor until 2010.

Since then, she has appeared in numerous successful TV shows such as ABS-CBN’s “Wildflower” which ran from 2017 to 2018. Her role as Emilia Ardiente-Torillo became one of the most talked-about characters in Philippine television at the time.

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