Old Faces, Reelectionists Dominate Local Polls

Members of political clans and reelectionists in the provinces have come out victorious in the elections.

In Iloilo, former health secretary Janette Garin is expected to win another term as representative of the first district. Her husband, former congressman Richard Garin, is poised to win the mayoral race in Miag-ao town.

Garin’s sister-in-law Vice Gov. Christine Garin was unopposed in her reelection bid while her other sister-in-law Jennifer Garin-Colada ran unopposed as mayor of Guimbal.

Another sister-in-law Sharon Garin is the first nominee of Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma Nga-OWA party-list group.

The Garin matriarch, Ninfa Serag-Garin, was reelected mayor of San Joaquin.

Gov. Arthur Defensor won a third term by a landslide while his brother Lorenz was also reelected as congressman.

Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda won another term. His mother Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda ran unopposed.

Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also has no opponent as representative of the second district of Pampanga.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. of Angeles City was proclaimed winner of the mayoral race by the city board of canvassers on Tuesday, May 10.

The Commission on Elections also proclaimed outgoing Leyte 4th District Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez as winner of the mayoral race in Ormoc City, Leyte on Tuesday. She will succeed her husband, actor Richard Gomez, who will take her place at the House of Representatives.

Family affair

In Marinduque, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, who also ran unopposed, was proclaimed as representative of the lone district. He obtained 100,794 votes.

His father, Presbitero Velasco Jr., was reelected governor while his mother Lorna won a second term as mayor of Torrijos.

Negros Occidental fourth district Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer, wife of Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer is also set to be proclaimed by the Commission on Elections.

Former congressman Alfredo Benitez was proclaimed winner of the mayoral race in Bacolod. He unseated Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Benitez’s son Javier Miguel was proclaimed as the new mayor of Victorias City while his brother Jose Francisco was reelected congressman of the third district of Negros Occidental.

Basilan polls

Basilan Gov. Jim Hataman-Salliman was leading with 110,083 votes against his closest rival Alfiya Akbar in the gubernatorial race with 75,498 votes as of noon on Tuesday. More than 90 percent of election returns have been transmitted.

Alfiya is the daughter of the late congressman Wahab Akbar who was killed in a bomb attack at the Batasang Pambansa in 2013.

Lone district Rep. Mujiv Hataman and his wife Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman of Isabela City will also be returning for their second terms after they edged their rivals by wide mar-gins.

In Sulu, Gov. Abdusakur Tan Sr. and his son and namesake Vice Gov. Abdusakur Tan Jr., who are seeking reelection, both ran unopposed.

In Zambales, Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane won against second district Rep. Cheryl Deloso-Montalla for governor.

Vice Gov. Jay Khonghun beat former congresswoman Mitos Habana-Magsaysay as representative of the first district of Zambales.

Mayor Bing Maniquiz of Botolan won against former governor Amor Deloso as representative of the second district of the province.

Pangasinan elects new gov

Meanwhile, the hold of the Espinos in Pangasinan, the country’s third most vote-rich province, is seen to end after 15 years with the impending proclamation of fifth district Rep. Ramon Guico III as governor.

Based on partial, unofficial results at about 2:02 p.m. on Tuesday, Guico garnered 883,922 votes against the 696,529 obtained by Gov. Amado Espino III.

Guico, a former three-term mayor of Binalonan, was elected congressman of the fifth district in 2019 after he beat Espino’s father.

Guico’s father, Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr., also won as congressman of the fifth district.

Former congressman Arthur Celeste was successful in his comeback against former governor and executive secretary Oscar Orbos.

Former fifth district congressman Mark Cojuangco, son of the late tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, who transferred residence to Lingayen, won against Espino’s brother second district congressman Jumel Anthony Espino.

Rachel Arenas is returning as representative of the fifth district of Pangasinan, replacing her mother deputy speaker Rose Marie, who is on her third term.

Fourth district Rep. Christopher de Venecia, son of former speaker Jose de Venecia and former congresswoman Gina de Venecia, defeated former Dagupan City vice mayor Alvin Fernandez to earn a third term. – Jennifer Rendon, Roel Pareño, Gilbert Bayoran, Ric Sapnu, Bebot Sison Jr., Eva Visperas, Delon Porcalla