Brothers fight over mayoral post, mother runs for vice mayor

BACNOTAN, La Union, Philippines  – The local race in this town is a family affair.

The incumbent mayor and his younger brother, a village chief, are vying for the mayoral post, with both filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs) at the municipal election registrar here.

Mayor Francis Fontanilla filed his COC on Wednesday, a day after his brother Lito filed on Tuesday. Both candidates were adopted by the Liberal Party.

Their mother, former mayor Ma. Minda Fontanilla, is Francis’ running mate, while Lito is running with Vice Mayor Frank Almodovar.

Political observers in Bacnotan said Lito was left out when Francis, an engineer working abroad, was picked by their mother to replace their vice mayor father, the late Rufino Fontanilla, who died of cancer last year.

In January, Minda resigned from her post for health reasons, which paved the way for Francis to become mayor.

Rep. Victor Ortega, a respected political adviser in La Union and an ally of the Fontanillas, mediated but failed to settle the differences between the brothers.

Sources said Ortega summoned the brothers and their mother to his residence in San Fernando City on Oct. 10, to settle the matter before the filing of COCs.

“They (brothers and mother) came for the meeting and were cordial. But when Victor asked them if they could settle the problem, they both answered in the negative. However, they both agreed to campaign calmly and shook hands,” the source said.