Ebdane gets new term; Isabela’s Dys fortify hold

IBA, Zambales, Philippines – Re-electionist Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane won a fresh term over his rival, former governor Amor Deloso, in the recently concluded midterm elections.

Ebdane garnered 129,828 votes against Deloso’s 107,173.

However, the former Philippine National Police chief’s son, Jun Omar, lost to Deloso’s daughter in the congressional race for the province’s second district.

Cheryl Deloso-Montalla received 67,981 votes while the younger Ebdane had 55,835.

Her victory boosted the political comeback of the Deloso clan in Zambales, with San Antonio Mayor Estella Deloso-Antipolo and provincial board member Jury Deloso also winning.

For vice governor, Ramon Lacbain defeated Rica Victoria Diaz-Arambulo and Reynaldo Tarongoy by a wide margin.

Former Subic mayor Jeffrey Khonghun beat James Gordon Jr., former mayor of Olongapo City, and Jose Vicente Magsaysay in the congressional race for the province’s first district.

The winners were proclaimed by the provincial board of canvassers last Friday.

Dys rule in Isabela

Meanwhile, the Dys strengthened their hold on Isabela politics as their scions and political allies dominated the midterm polls, including the province’s four congressional district seats over their Liberal Party opponents.

Re-electionist Gov. Faustino Dy III of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) won over former governor Grace Padaca’s brother, Marlo Angelo Padaca.

Dy was proclaimed at the capitol session hall in Ilagan City last Tuesday after garnering 358,998 votes against Padaca’s 42,354. Another gubernatorial candidate, Glorieta Almazan, got 8,986 votes.

Dy’s brother, Rep. Napoleon Dy, was re-elected for his second term as congressman of the province’s third district, besting former congressman Ramon Reyes, who served as vice governor during Padaca’s six-year incumbency as governor.

The Dys regained the governorship in 2010 after Faustino III defeated Padaca.

Faustino Jr. is the NPC national president. He is the eldest among the scions of the late Faustino Sr., Isabela’s longest-serving governor.

Gov. Dy’s running mate, former RPN-9 executive Tonypet Albano, brother of outgoing Vice Gov. Rodito Albano, won the race for vice governor. – With Charlie Lagasca, Raymund Catindig