WINNING SMILE Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro (heart), a political neophyte, is formally proclaimed winner of Cebu’s gubernatorial race by the provincial board of canvassers on Tuesday afternoon on the Cebu provincial capitol, defeating reelectionist Gov. Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia. —Nestle Semilla-Dakay
CEBU CITY, Philippines — They have been thought to have a viselike grip of their bailiwicks, however a number of political clans within the provinces misplaced massive in final Monday’s elections, sending gasps of disbelief amongst their supporters.
In Cebu, the most important upset occurred, when the a long time maintain on energy of the Garcia household crumbled.
This after their most distinguished member, reelectionist Gov. Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia, misplaced to a neophyte, Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro, in a convincing defeat that the majority Cebuanos didn’t see coming.
Furthermore, Garcia’s nephew, Cebu Metropolis Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, additionally misplaced his reelection bid to Nestor Archival, a metropolis councilor backed by former Cebu Metropolis Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who additionally received as Archival’s vice mayoral operating mate, marking a comeback for a member of the Osmeña clan that used to dominate Cebu’s politics.
Simply days earlier than the elections, the tough-talking Gwen, 69, was regarded as indestructible, who defied a six-month preventive suspension by the Workplace of the Ombudsman and whose endorsement was sought by senatorial candidates for her much-touted command over the three.4 million voters within the province.
READ: Pam Baricuatro is governor-elect of Cebu
Grateful to Digong
Gwen’s routing got here within the type of Baricuatro, 58, a retired Cathay Pacific flight attendant-turned-social enterprise entrepreneur and a former board member of the Land Financial institution of the Philippines, whose first foray into politics went with none political equipment or assist from mayors and who was not taken critically till she received the endorsements of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
Even because the early unofficial rely noticed her main the race, there have been nonetheless many who thought Gwen would catch up. However on Tuesday, Baricuatro was proclaimed new Cebu governor, profitable by a margin of 300,000 votes (1,107,924) towards Garcia (765,051 votes).
Baricuatro received in 29 localities, together with Liloan city which was the bailiwick of reelected fifth district Rep. Duke Frasco, husband of Garcia’s eldest daughter, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco. Garcia received in 22 of 51 cities and cities.
“I’m glad to win on this election. I’m grateful to former President Rodridgo Duterte for endorsing me,” Baricuatro informed reporters after the proclamation. “However greater than that, I feel the Cebuanos need change. I launched myself to the Cebuanos and I’m honest in my want to carry order to this province of ours.”
Garcia has not proven herself in public since Election Day however her consultant tried to cease the proclamation course of, telling Provincial Election Officer Marchel Sarno {that a} petition to disqualify Baricuatro has been reportedly acquired by the Fee on Elections (Comelec) in Manila.
Sarno, nonetheless, proceeded with the proclamation since he didn’t get any directive from the Comelec central workplace to cease the canvassing of votes in addition to Baricuatro’s proclamation.
“Solely the Comelec central workplace can cease what we’re doing right here. To date, we have now not acquired any order to cease the canvassing of votes,” he mentioned.
READ: Nestor Archival topples Mike Rama, Raymond Garcia in Cebu Metropolis
Political giants no extra?
In contrast to Garcia, her nephew Raymond was fast to just accept defeat in Cebu Metropolis’s mayoral race. Raymond conceded to Archival on Monday night time when Archival’s lead had widened by greater than 70,000 votes.
In Marinduque, Presbitero Velasco and his son Lord Allan, each political giants within the island province, have been additionally dropping their grip on native politics.
Based mostly on partial, unofficial outcomes as of 1:42 p.m. Tuesday, Mel Go garnered 64,987 votes whereas Lord Allan was intently behind with 64,734 within the governorship race.
The elder Velasco, a retired Supreme Courtroom justice, solely acquired 55,689 votes within the race within the lone congressional seat, dropping to Rey Salvacion who received 72,464.
Presbitero, the previous governor, and Lord Allan, a former Speaker of the Home of Representatives, switched locations on this yr’s native elections after the son ended his three-year time period in Congress.
In one other main upset, the daughter of former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo “Nonong” Jalosjos Sr., Sushmita, misplaced the mayoral race within the clan’s bailiwick of Dapitan Metropolis.
All different clan members who sought workplace on Monday’s political train additionally misplaced.
READ: Jalosjos clan suffers rout in Zamboanga del Norte races
Former Dipolog Metropolis Mayor Belen Uy was proclaimed because the newly elected mayor of Dapitan on Tuesday, ending the Jalosjos clan’s over two-decade grip on native energy.
The clan first received a deal with on town’s management in 2001 via Nonong’s brother-in-law, Rodolfo Carreon Jr.
The publish then went to Nonong’s youthful brother Dominador Jr., youthful sister Rosalina, and son Seth Frederick.
On Monday, Rosalina misplaced to Belen’s husband Roberto Sr. for mayor of Dipolog Metropolis, the capital, whereas Seth Frederick misplaced to the Uy couple’s son Darel Dexter within the race for governor.
Nonong’s brother Cesar misplaced the race for congressman of the province’s third district to an Uy ally, reelectionist Rep. Adrian Amatong.
His sister, Cecilia Carreon, misplaced in her bid for a seat in Congress representing the primary district, trounced by reelectionist Rep. Roberto Uy Jr. /cb
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