Re-elected Nueva Ecija vice governor makes history

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines – Re-elected Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos has made history, as he beat former vice governor Eduardo Joson IV with a 238,827-vote margin.

Padiernos, running mate of re-elected Gov. Aurelio Umali of the Liberal Party-Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago, garnered 543,066 votes against the 304,239 votes of Joson of the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija.

Padiernos’ vote margin is bigger than Umali’s 218,000-vote lead over his rival, first district Rep. Josie Manuel-Joson.

Padiernos won in all five component cities of Nueva Ecija and in 24 of 27 towns, losing only in Aliaga, Pantabangan and Quezon, the Josons’ hometown.

Roughly 30 percent of his votes – 179,870 – came from his bailiwick, the fourth congressional district where his rival only obtained 48,209 votes.

Padiernos, who has one more term left as vice governor, said he was overwhelmed by the new mandate he received from Novo Ecijanos, particularly as his vote edge was twice that of 2010.

“Since my vote margin was double that of 2010, I would also double my efforts as Sangguniang Panglungsod presiding officer in steering it and our board members to pass key legislation for the people of Nueva Ecija,” he said.

He added he would provide all-out support to the pro-development legislative agenda of the Umali administration.

With his second consecutive landslide victory, Padiernos went down in history as the first non-Umali to beat a Joson in an elective capitol position.

Previously, the Josons had not lost a fight for the post of governor or vice governor, except to Umali who started his term with a landslide win in 2007 over then vice governor Mariano Cristino Joson.

That victory ended the Josons’ 48-year grip on the provincial capitol. Umali won re-election in 2010 by beating then vice governor Edward Thomas Joson and a third term last May 13 by winning over Manuel-Joson.

Considered by many as the “man to watch” in the post-election scenario, Padiernos first became vice governor by winning over actor Rommel Padilla in the 2010 elections by 117,255 votes. He amassed 458,454 votes against Padilla’s 341,199.

Political observers credited Padiernos for helping restore political stability in the province during his first term, befriending even Joson allies and not allowing the provincial board to become a venue to harass pro-Joson mayors facing administrative charges even though he and Umali wield majority control, thus earning their respect and admiration.