Manila, Malabon Get First Woman Mayors; Vico Sotto, Other Incumbents In Metro Retain Posts

The cities of Manila and Malabon elected their first female mayors in this year’s elections.

Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna is set to take over the mayoralty post vacated by Isko Moreno, who ran and conceded defeat in the 2022 presidential elections.

Lacuna garnered 510,687 votes based on unofficial count as of 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10. In an interview, Lacuna said she opted to wait for the transmittal of the remaining votes before she gets proclaimed.

Lacuna won against Alex Lopez, son of the late Manila mayor Mel Lopez Jr., who got 158,896 votes based on partial count.

Another woman candidate, Christy Lim, daughter of the late Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, only got 14,156 votes. Former Manila district representative Amado Bagatsing got 109,505 votes.

Lacuna’s running mate, actor Yul Servo, won as vice mayor.

During the interview at City Hall, Lacuna said she is “honored” to be Manila’s first woman mayor and is proud to have fulfilled the wish of her father, former Manila vice mayor Danny Lacuna, who had run for Manila mayor but lost. Moreno often touts Danny Lacuna as his mentor in politics.

“I am honored I fulfilled the dream of my father to have a Lacuna as Manila mayor,” Lacuna said in Filipino.

In a tight race, former Malabon vice mayor Jeannie Sandoval finally won the top post with 94,826 or 50.33 percent of the votes, against councilor Enzo Oreta, the brother of outgoing mayor Lenlen Oreta, who got 93,547 or 49.66 percent of the votes.

Sandoval last ran for mayor in 2019 but lost to the incumbent Lenlen, who ends his third term as Malabon mayor.

However, Sandoval’s husband Ricky again lost the congressional bid to Jaye Lacson-Noel, who won a second term. Enzo Oreta’s running mate, Ninong dela Cruz, won a second term as Malabon vice mayor. 

Sotto, Jaworski enjoy landslide victory in Pasig

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto secured a second term with an overwhelming victory against yet another scion of a local political clan, with allies securing almost all of the local posts.

Sotto was proclaimed early Tuesday following the canvassing of local votes, earning 335,851 votes and beating his rival, outgoing Vice Mayor Iyo Christian Bernardo, who got 45,604 votes.

Bernardo is the grandson of the late Pasig mayor Emiliano Caruncho Jr., who served for 30 years. He ran unopposed in the 2019 elections as vice mayor with former mayor Bobby Eusebio, whose family’s decades-old rule in the city was ended by Sotto.

Bernardo’s seat as vice mayor will be taken over by Sotto’s running mate, former Pasig congressman Robert Jaworski Jr., who won as vice mayor with 205,250 votes – also a landslide victory against contenders Mario Concepcion (87,716) and Christian Sia (76,028).

Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo – Sotto’s biggest ally in his 2019 bid for mayor – was also reelected to represent the lone district in the House of Representatives with 304,157 votes. He won against Ricky Eusebio, brother of former mayor Bobby, and Rex Maliuanag, who got 54,431 and 3,977 votes, respectively.

Bernardo and other candidates who lost reportedly gathered at midnight Tuesday to protest the results of Sotto’s landslide victory.

Sotto thanked his constituents for a fresh term, vowing to continue local government reforms.

“The voice of Pasig residents were heard loud and clear: the changes we started will continue,” he said.

Belmonte, Sotto win second terms in QC

Reelectionist Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto secured second terms based on the official results from the Commission on Elections transparency server.

As of 3:32 p.m. with 96.2 percent of election returns transmitted, Belmonte obtained 643,159 votes against the 406,160 votes of her closest rival, Anakalusugan Rep. Michael Defensor.

Meanwhile, Sotto obtained 576,564 votes against the 423,059 obtained by outgoing councilor and former congressman Winnie Castelo.

The local board of canvassers proclaimed the winners in the local races on Tuesday.

In the congressional race, many of those in Belmonte’s slate led the partial and unofficial count.

Actor Arjo Atayde obtained 111,742 votes against reelectionist District 1 Rep. Onyx Crisologo with only 52,554, while Ralph Tulfo – son of broadcaster and presumptive senator Raffy Tulfo – is leading with 124,468 votes against incumbent District 2 Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo with 94,012.

Reelectionist District 3 Rep. Franz Pumaren obtained 59,524 votes, slightly ahead of his challenger Allan Benedict Reyes with 55,748.

In District 4, Belmonte’s candidate reelectionist Rep. Bong Suntay is trailing outgoing councilor Marvin Rillo with 78,698 and 80,249 votes, respectively.

Outgoing Councilor PM Vargas, who is eyeing to replace his brother, District 5 Rep. Alfred Vargas, is leading with 103,350 against Rose Line with 72,388.

In District 6, outgoing councilor Marivic Co-Pilar is leading against former District 1 representative Bingbong Crisologo with 95,471 and 523,673, respectively.

Leading in the council races in District 1 are BH Bernard Herrera (120,063), TJ Calalay (117,189), Doray Delarmente (115,253), Sep Juico (102,685), Nikki Crisologo (93,383) and Charm Ferrer (90,786)

District 2: Mikey Belmonte (146,939), Candy Medina (146,202), Aly Medalla (121,663), Dave Valmocina (117,665), Rannie Ludovica (107,097) and Godie Liban (103,345).

District 3: Kate Coseteng (73,528), Dok Lumbad (65,503), Chuckie Antonio (63,055), Don De Leon (57,853), Wency Lagumbay (54,394) and Anton Reyes (53,366).

District 4: Egay Yap (86,074), Imee Rillo (83,255), Raquel Malañgen (82,26), Irene Belmonte (79,344), Nanette Daza (77,871) and Marra Suntay (76,233).

District 5: Joseph Joe Visaya (139,591), Alfred Vargas (136,727), Ram Medalla (107,462), Shay Liban (96,310), Aiko Melendez (94,367) and Mutya Castelo (89,393).

District 6: Doc Ellie Juan (88,638), Kristine Donny Matias (86,886), Eric Medina (81,484), Banjo Pilar (72,656), Vito Sotto Generoso (70,888) and Victor Bernardo (66,150).

Political families

While Manila and Malabon will have new mayors, several parts of the National Capital Region have elected familiar faces — most of them part of political families.

The cities of Navotas, Valenzuela and Caloocan have relatives of the outgoing mayors set to take over their posts at city hall.

Brothers John Rey and Toby Tiangco switched their incumbent positions as district representative and mayor, respectively. They were proclaimed before dawn on Tuesday, May 10.

Meanwhile, Valenzuela 1st District Rep. and House Deputy Speaker Wes Gatchalian was proclaimed mayor before dawn that same day. Gatchalian will replace his brother Rex, who in turn will assume his congressional post.

Along Malapitan, the son of outgoing Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan, won the mayoralty post against Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice. The elder Malapitan took the son’s first district post.

Cayetano back as Taguig chief executive

In Taguig, Lani Cayetano has made a successful return as mayor after representing the city in the House of Representatives as first district representative for only one term, beating her rival backed by presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Cayetano was proclaimed mayor at past 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

As of 5 p.m., Cayetano won the race with 272,433, beating rival Arnel Cerafica – whose local political coalition is allied with Marcos Jr.’s UniTeam – who got 87,164 votes.

Cayetano’s running mate, Alvin Alit, also won with a commanding lead with 231,646 votes against Janelle Cerafica, who got 105,040 votes.

Meanwhile, the District 1 congressional seat that Cayetano will vacate will be occupied by outgoing Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz, who had been Cayetano’s vice mayor from 2013 to 2019. He received 99,059 votes against Allan Cerafica’s 82,673 votes.

Outgoing Taguig councilwoman Pammy Zamora – sister of San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora – will occupy the District 2 congressional seat after getting 120,833 votes against Che Che Gonzales, who got 54,959 votes.

Meanwhile, Cayetano’s slate of city council candidates swept the elections, with all Nacionalista Party bets securing all 16 city council seats.

Trading places

Metro Manila cities such as Parañaque and Muntinlupa have seen local officials trading positions, such as outgoing Parañaque Rep. Eric Olivarez and his brother, outgoing Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

The outgoing lawmaker received 174,816 votes to win the mayoral seat. Second in the race was Jun Zaide with 64,263 votes.

Joan Villafuerte, however, defeated Olivarez’ running mate Binky Favis, receiving 102,760 votes compared to the latter’s 89,131.

The outgoing mayor had 91,241 votes, defeating Jayson Moral, who received 5,662 votes. 

Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon and Mayor Jaime Fresnedi successfully traded positions following landslide wins.

Biazon, who is running for mayor, received 180,742 votes compared to Red Marinas’ 60,434 votes.

Fresnedi, who ran for the congressional seat, had 183,085 votes compared to Silverio Garing’s 52,530 votes.

Incumbent Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac won his reelection bid, defeating Oyo Boy Dioko, 131,882 to 97,567.

Reelectionists

Mayors Francis Zamora of San Juan and Marcelino Teodoro of Marikina gained fresh three-year terms.

Zamora, a candidate of PDP-Laban, received 66,883 votes while his rival, former barangay kagawad Jun Usman, got 9,413 votes.

His running mate, Vice Mayor Warren Villa, also won a second term, garnering 55,920 votes against his rival Philip Cezar, who only got 16,608 votes.

Zamora’s sister, lawyer Bel Zamora, was elected as the city’s lone legislative district congresswoman, garnering 49,334 votes.

Bel Zamora’s opponent, Councilor Jana Ejercito –a niece of former president Joseph Estrada – garnered 27,133 votes.

Marikina’s board of canvassers on Tuesday proclaimed Teodoro as the winner in the mayoralty race after beating his rival via landslide, Marikina First District Rep. Bayani Fernando.

Teodoro got his third term as mayor after garnering 183,878 votes, defeating Fernando who only got 40,149 votes.

Teodoro’s wife, Marjorie Ann, won the congressional race with 68,572 votes. Vice Mayor Marion Andres was reelected. All of the councilors under Teodoro’s slate also won.

Third terms for Las Piñas, Makati mayors

Mayors Imelda Aguilar of Las Piñas and Abby Binay of Makati won their bids for a fresh three-year term, their third and final.

Aguilar won with 108,644 votes, defeating Ferds Eusebio, who garnered 38,285 votes.

The mayor’s daughter, April, retained her seat as vice mayor with 123,457 votes compared to Bishop Jerry delos Reyes with 44,991.

Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar was also reelected after garnering 130,812 votes compared to lawyer Louie Redoble with 65,751 votes.

Binay was proclaimed mayor Tuesday morning with 338,819 votes against her rival, independent candidate Joel Hernandez, who got 16,640 votes.

Her running mate, reelectionist Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, also won with 314,070 votes against rival Rod Biolena, also an independent candidate, who got 22,498 votes.

Binay’s husband, Jose Luis Campos, was reelected as the city’s District 2 representative. He won against Ricardo Opoc who got 14,838 votes.

District 1 Rep. Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr. – who dealt Abby’s father, former vice president Jejomar Binay Sr. his second-biggest political loss in 2019 – was reelected with 146,131 votes. He ran this year under Binay’s Makatizens United. – With Janvic Mateo, Ralph Edwin Villanueva, Emmanuel Tupas, Jose Rodel Clapano