Gatchalian brods swap posts

MANILA, Philippines - District one Rep. Rex Gatchalian and his younger brother, incumbent Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, of Valenzuela won yesterday their bid for each other’s posts.

Majority of the candidates of Tayo Na, Valenzuela, led by the brothers, won in this year’s midterm polls.

The younger Gatchalian won against his opponent, Richie Cuadra (Lakas), by a margin of 23,431 votes for the congressional race, while Rex won against re-electionist district two Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo’s wife, Adel, by a margin of 85,697 votes in the mayoralty race.

Gunigundo won against Councilor Shalani Soledad-Romulo by a slim margin.

Re-electionist Vice Mayor Eric Martinez also defeated Katherine Pineda of Lakas by a margin of 31,058 votes.

More than 200,000 voters in Valenzuela participated in this year’s midterm elections. The final tally of votes and the total number of voters have yet to be released by the local poll body as they have yet to canvass six of Valenzuela’s clustered precincts.