2010 polls cripple, fortify political families in Iloilo
The electorate has decided.
With the voting public’s verdict comes the toppling and strengthening of several known political names in Iloilo.
For one, while some of their family members clinched a win, the Tupas political clan is seeing major defeats in the congressional and gubernatorial race.
Incumbent Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. is seen to lose in his bid as representative in the province’s fourth district.
Based on 82.91% of election returns, it showed that incumbent 4th district Congressman Ferjenil Biron would win as he has already garnered 94,165 votes over Tupas’ 50,572.
Biron’s father, Hernan, also won as second term mayor of Barotac Nuevo.
Meanwhile, Tupas’ son, incumbent Mayor Raul Tupas of Barotac Viejo town, is also seen to lose in his bid to succeed in his father’s post as against 3rd district Cong. Arthur Defensor, Sr., a former three-termer provincial governor.
Defensor’s son, Board Member Arthur, Jr., managed to post a landslide victory in the 3rd congressional district against former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rene Villa and lawyer Zafiro Lauron.
But all is not lost for the Tupases.
Niel Tupas, Jr., who is running for re-election at the province’s fifth district, edged his cousin, incumbent Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, a three-term representative of the said district.
The incumbent governor’s another son, Niel III, also made a landslide victory as mayor of Barotac Viejo while his son-in-law, Parly Balleza, was also elected as Sangguniang Bayan member.
Further, one of Tupas brood, Nielex, is also seen to post victory as re-electionist of the Iloilo City Council.
While the result is muddle up of upbeat and negative conclusion for the Tupases, the well-known Gonzalez father-and-son tandem fears a double whammy after both of them incur neck and neck race against their opponents in the initial counting.
Former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Sr. is having a cutthroat race against his opponent Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, while his son, Iloilo City lone district Cong. Raul, Jr., was edged by outgoing Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas.
This, despite that the Gonzalezes enjoyed the endorsement of Iglesia Ni Kristo, which has about 22,000 voting members.
Meanwhile, the Garin political family was in all-out celebration after all of the four running members of their family posted a win.
In fact, incumbent Mayor Christine Garin of Guimbal town and her sister-in-law, 1st district Congresswoman Janette Garin, already sealed their victory even before the election started, as they both ran unopposed.
Janette’s husband, Board Member Richard Garin, and Richard’s mother, incumbent Mayor Ninfa Garin, posted a landslide victory against their opponents.
Relatedly, the 2010 election also saw the defeat of former Army and police official.
Incumbent Estancia town mayor Restituto Mosqueda, a retired police general, was defeated by Rene Cordero, also the town’s former mayor.
Retired Army official, Salvador Divinagracia, was lost in his mayoral bid against incumbent Mayor Alex Centena.
In the 2007 elections, Divinagracia and Centena, a three-term mayor, both run as vice mayor.
Divinagracia was proclaimed winner and became mayor after the elected town mayor succumbed to cancer.
However, Centena unseated Divinagracia after winning an electoral protest.
Manwhile, incumbent Lambunao Mayor Reynor Gonzales, also a retired police general, did not replicate Mosqueda and Divinagracia’s path.
Gonzales emerged victorious in his re-election bid against former Mayor Vicente Ramirez.
