Manuel Luis "Manny" Tantoco Lopez (born August 18, 1961) is a Filipino politician and former sports executive who is the former Representative from Manila's 1st congressional district, which comprises the western side of Tondo, the largest of the city's sixteen districts.
Early life and education
Lopez is the son of former ManilamayorMel Lopez, who served in the role from 1986 to 1992, with businesswoman and entrepreneur Concepcion Tantoco. Manny was already a congressman when he confirmed his father's death in 2017.[1]
Lopez was elected as representative of Manila's 1st district in 2016 House of Representatives election as a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). He successfully defended his seat in 2019 for his second term.[8] A defeated candidate, former congressman Benjamin Asilo, protested Lopez's victory at the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal. In late 2020, the tribunal dismissed Asilo's protest, which it said was done on a "gut feel," confirming Lopez's victory.[9]
For the 2022 mayoral election, the Alfonso Cusi-led faction of the ruling party PDP–Laban endorsed him as their nominee.[10] Lopez was subsequently endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte.[11] The mayoral election was then seen as a race between Lopez and current vice mayor Honey Lacuna, but Lopez withdrew and decided to defend his congressional seat for a third and final consecutive term instead.[12] His brother, lawyer Alex Lopez, ran in his stead.[13] However, he lost the congressional race to former councilor Ernix Dionisio of Asenso Manileño. He will seek a comeback to the same post in 2025, this time under Asenso Manileño, notably against Dionisio.[14]