Slain Negros councilor bets, more veteran politicians win polls

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines  —  Two councilors in Negros Occidental, who were killed in gun attacks, still emerged as winners in the elections on Monday.

Escalante Councilor Bernardino Patigas Sr., who was shot dead by an unidentified gunman on April 22, placed eighth among the 10 winning councilors, with 18,358 votes, according to election officer Agnes Roullo.

Patigas was replaced by his younger brother Abraham.

Michael Garcia, who died in an ambush in Moises Padilla on April 22, won as top  councilor with 10,981 votes. He was replaced by his 25-year-old brother Vincent.

Probers still have no leads on the murder of Patigas while 30 suspects, including several members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team, were charged over the killing of Garcia.

Moises Padilla Councilor Jolomar Hilario, whose death on March 30 was owned up by New People’s Army rebels, ranked only 11th.    

Meanwhile, more old names in local politics emerged as winners in the midterm elections on Monday.

Actor Daniel  Fernando

Actor Daniel Fernando, who is on his third term as Bulacan vice governor, was proclaimed governor on Thursday night.  

Fernando garnered 706,903 votes. His closest rival, Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad, got only 406,366 votes. 

Fernando’s runningmate Gov. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado was proclaimed vice governor. Alvarado’s son Jose Antonio was elected representative of the first district. 

Espinos of P’sinan

Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino III won a second term with 782,073 votes, defeating his lone rival, Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste, who got only 582,872 votes. 

Espino’s brother Jumel Anthony, the mayor of Bugallon, was also victorious in his bid  for a Congress seat in the second district. He defeated board member Raul Sison.

The governor’s mother, Priscilla, was elected mayor of Bugallon.  

However,  the Espino patriarch, fifth district Rep. Amado Espino Jr., lost in his reelection bid to Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico III.   

Arenas, De Venecia, Pineda

Pangasinan third district Rep. Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas and fourth district Rep. Christopher de Venecia handily won over their opponents. 

Arenas obtained 242,465 votes. Her rivals, former Calasiao mayor Felipe de Vera  and Jaime Aquino got 41,653 and 5,655 votes, respectively.

De Venecia, son of former speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and former congresswoman Gina de Venecia, garnered 166,917 votes or 73.21 percent of the total votes cast in the province.

De Venecia is on his second term while Arenas will serve her third term.

In Pampanga, Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda was proclaimed governor. He switched posts with his mother Lilia.

Women power

In North Cotabato, Rep. Nancy Catamco was proclaimed winner in the gubernatorial race. She defeated Mayor Roger Taliño of Carmen town.

Taliño is the father of North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, who was elected vice governor.

Also proclaimed on Thursday was Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu as governor of Maguindanao. Her runningmate Vice Gov. Lester Sinsuat was reelected to his third term.

Mangudadatu’s husband Suharto, the governor of Sultan Kudarat, also won another term. His brother, Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, was reelected congressman.  – Ramon Efren Lazaro, John Unson, Eva Visperas, Ric Sapnu, Ding Cervantes