MANILA? Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who is running for mayor in 2010, has a new running mate.

Lawyer Chito Salud, who earlier filed his certificate of candidacy for vice mayor alongside Mercado, gave way, on Sunday, to Councilor Romulo ?Kid? Peña Jr., also the president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC).

?I would like to thank Attorney Salud for the sacrifice he made to strengthen our group. He sacrificed his ambition because he believes that Kid Peña would give a good fight,? Mercado told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sunday.

Peña, who earlier filed his CoC for vice mayor as an independent, said he was ?overwhelmed? at being chosen as Mercado?s running mate.

He added that he would work hard for Mercado to win in the 2010 election.

The race for mayor in the country?s financial district became heated when Mercado, a former staunch ally of Mayor Jejomar Binay, decided to run against Binay?s only son, Councilor Jejomar Erwin Binay.

But the entry of Peña, who deals directly with officials of Makati?s 33 barangay (villages), will put to test the Binays who picked former councilor and singer Rico Puno to be the younger Binay?s running mate.

?I believe that as ABC president, Kid Peña will be a big help in uniting the city?s barangays,? Mercado said.

Salud, according to Mercado, will now take the role of being their spokesperson, along with Rep. Teddyboy Locsin Jr., whose wife Louie is hoping to replace him in Congress in 2010.