THE outcome of the Monday elections might have spelled the end to many known political dynasties in the provinces.
Early results in the partial unofficial count by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gave people a peek at which of the looming political dynasties will occupy center stage of partisan rule in the provinces.
Josons’ reign ends
The victory of the Umali brothers — Aurelio as governor and Anthony as vice governor — as shown in the complete unofficial results, closed the book on the decades-old rule of the Josons in Nueva Ecija.
Former governor Edno Joson was defeated by Aurelio; while his nephew who ran for vice governor, incumbent provincial Board member Edward Thomas Joson, older son of former governor Tomas Joson 3rd, also lost to Emmanuel Anthony “Doc” Umali.
The Vergaras of Cabanatuan City were also slugging it out with the Umalis. Third District reelectionist Rep. Rosanna “Ria” Vergara won over her opponent, incumbent Gov. Czarina Umali, the elected governor’s wife.
In Cabanatuan City, Mica Elizabeth Vergara and her father Julius Caesar “Jay” Vergara won as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, along with 10 councilors.
Cabanatuan is not only the center of commerce in Nueva Ecija, it is also the center of political activities and is a determining factor in the local elections with its 201,893 voters, the highest number in the province.
Outgoing mayor Jay fielded his daughter Mica for the mayorship while he ran for vice mayor. Mica is a stepdaughter of Ria.
Incumbent Fourth District Rep. Magnolia Antonino was defeated by the neophyte former mayor of Gapan City Maricel Natividad Nagaño.
The provincial board of canvassers proclaimed winners Ria, Nagaño and some of the Provincial Board members namely, Eduardo “EJ” Joson, Jojo Matias, Claudine Joy Pascual, Napoleon Interior and Maritess Patiag.
Rep. Estrella “Ging” Suansing, won in the First District, defeating incumbent provincial Board member actor Rommel Padilla, father of actor Daniel Padilla.
First District and Second District representatives were not proclaimed on Tuesday because four Secure Digital (SD) cards reportedly malfunctioned in the towns of
Cuyapo, Aliaga Talavera and Rizal, and were sent to the regional Comelec office where the SD cards were to be reconfigured, said provincial election assistant, Charizze Bolisay.
Rep. Micaela “Mikki” Violago won by a landslide against her challenger, brother-in-law Lito Violago, in the Second District .
In Bulacan, actor and incumbent Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando is set to replace Gov. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado, who also won landslide as vice governor.
Fernando won his first term as governor after serving three terms as vice governor of the vote-rich province over his rivals Malolos City Mayor Christian Natividad and Theodore “Teddy” Natividad .
Other elected officials were already proclaimed on Tuesday, including former Pandi mayor Enrico Roque who won by a huge margin over incumbent Tinoy Marquez; reelectionists mayors Joni Villanueva of Bocaue and Goto Violago of San Rafael town.
Violago was earlier named by President Rodrigo Duterte as among the narcopoliticians.
Other winners for mayor were Linabelle Ruth Villarica of Meycauayan City and incumbent Mayor Arthur Robes of the City of San Jose del Monte.
Neophytes beat seasoned rivals
In Baguio City, a newbie politician bested his seasoned rivals as he coasted to a convincing victory in the mayoral race in the Summer Capital.
The City Board of Canvassers proclaimed retired Police Maj. Gen. Benjamin Magalong shortly before midnight on Monday as the next mayor after establishing a margin of nearly 18,000 votes against his closest rival, incumbent Vice Mayor Edison Bilog and three other candidates.
“I was overwhelmed by the outcome of the political exercise. We will have to hit the ground going because there are a lot of expectations from the people,” Magalong, who retired from the Philippine National Police in 2016, said.
The former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will take the place of six-term Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who would end his current term as local chief executive by noon of June 30.
Woman power
In Zamboanga, female power proved true for Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco Salazar, who defeated Rep. Celso Lobregat in what could be a historical victory against a powerful political clan that ruled Zamboanga for many decades now.
Salazar won overwhelmingly with over 30,000 votes against Lobregat, who was once touted as the richest mayor in Mindanao, and one of the longest and oldest serving members of the House of Representatives.
Garnering over 130,000 votes, Salazar campaigned hard and tirelessly, which could be a humiliating defeat for Lobregat, who claimed to have the support of nearly 80 percent of barangay (village) chairmen and various sectors in Zamboanga.
His younger brother, Jomar, also ran for a congressional seat but was defeated for the second time since 2013.
Salazar’s grandfather, Cesar Climaco, considered the greatest mayor of Zamboanga, also defeated Lobregat’s mother, Maria Clara, 35 years ago.
In Sulu, returning governor Sakur Tan and his group won the election by a wide margin over their opponents.
The Tan patriarch edged over rival Ben Loong, who was supported by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. His sons also won seats: Toto as vice governor and Samier as congressman. Meanwhile his daughter, Sheila, was proclaimed mayor of Maimbung town.
Tan is a known philanthropist and an influential Muslim leader, who supported President Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential campaign in 2016 after breaking away from the administration and political party of former president Benigno Aquino 3rd months before elections.
Despite being threatened by the military for supporting Duterte instead of former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, Tan rallied almost all of 19 municipal mayors in Sulu and other Muslim provinces to back Duterte, who eventually won by a landslide in the Muslim autonomous region.
Reelectionists win
Without official proclamation, majority of reelectionists in Quezon province have secured their positions, including the mayor of Lucena City.
House Minority Floor Leader Danilo Suarez won over opponent fellow Rep. Vicente Alcala for the gubernatorial race, while incumbent Vice Gov. Sam Nantes retained his post against contender Arcie Malite.
Returning as unopposed, First District Rep. Mark Enverga and Fourth District Rep. Angelina Tan both secured reelection wins.
Third District Rep. Aleta Suarez, who took over her husband Danilo’s post, also won over Ronnie de Luna, while incumbent governor David Suarez walloped former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala for the Second District’s seat.
Incumbent Lucena Mayor Roderick Alcala and Vice Mayor Philip Castillo were also reelected.
Meanwhile, among Quezon’s 39 towns and two cities, only General Luna town’s mayoral winner Matt Florido, a neophyte candidate, was proclaimed by the local Comelec on Monday night.
In Rizal province, reelectionist Rep. Michael John “Jack” Duavit enjoyed a wide lead over lone opponent Noli Dazo, while Gov. Rebecca “Nini” Ynares secured a second term.
Joric Gacula got a second term as mayor in Taytay, Rizal after leading against Carlito “Bonoy” Gonzaga, father of actors Toni and Alex Gonzaga.
In Angono, Jeri Mae Calderon, daughter of former Angono mayor Gerry Calderon, was elected as the new town mayor, while his father will sit as vice mayor.
In Cainta, incumbent mayor Johnielle “Kit” Nieto got a fresh mandate after winning over former Cainta vice mayor Pia Velasco.
Reelection bids lost
Three incumbent mayors in Negros Occidental lost their reelection bids, based on partial official results on Tuesday.
Incumbent Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor lost to Irene Consunji Montilla, wife of the late Mayor Enrique Montilla by only 48 votes.
Fifth District Rep. Alejandro Mirasol succeeded in reclaiming the mayorship of Binalabagan town from erstwhile political ally Mayor Manuel Aranda. Mirasol’s wife Mary Ann lost to Aranda in 2016.
Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña also lost to his estranged niece Vice Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo.
Garcia’s running mater Ian Villaflor won as vice mayor.
In Himamaylan City, the decades rule of the Bascons ended with the victory of Raymond Tongson as mayor against incumbent Vice Mayor Carmencita Bascon.
Mayors elected to their first terms were Salvador Escalante Jr. of Cadiz City, Alfonso Baguio of Calatrava, Melecio Yap of Escalante City, John Paul Alvarez of Ilog, Pedro Zayco of Kabankalan City, Renato Gustilo of San Carlos City and Maria Gina Lizares of Sipalay City.
Awaiting proclamation are incoming governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and vice governor Jeffrey Ferrer.
Cutain falls on Cebu’s Osmeña
As the Comelec count in Cebu approached the 100 percent marks, the numbers showed that the curtains have come down on Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s political life in Cebu.
Partial and unofficial results as of 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday revealed that 99.87 percent of the election returns in Cebu City had been transmitted.
According to the Comelec Transparency Server, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella led the mayoral race with 265,436 votes, while Osmeña garnered 246,399 votes.
On his official Facebook page, Osmeña said: “I do not want a single person to feel sorry for me. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I am not the priority. You are the priority. Everything I’ve done as mayor, I’ve done for Cebu.”
Meanwhile, Labella thanked Cebuanos on his official Facebook page. “Thank you, my fellow Sugbuanons, thank you for placing your trust in me. I pray to God for wisdom, for good health, for strength and patience, so that I can help all of you build a city where everyone, not just a few, can flourish and prosper.” CELSO M. CAJUCOM, FREDERICK SILVERIO, DEXTER A. SEE, AL JACINTO, BELLY M. OTORDOZ, GABRIELA BARON, EUGENE Y. ADIONG AND RHEA RUTH ROSELL
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