REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: May 17, 2019

Albay chooses 4 Otso bets

LEGAZPI CITY—Half of the candidates of the opposition slate Otso Diretso made it to the top 12 senators chosen by voters in Albay province. The final official tally of votes in Albay showed Sen. Bam Aquino placing second (342,104 votes); former Sen. Mar Roxas, fourth (255,056); human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, ninth (177,565); and Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano clinching the 10th spot (175,405). The homegrown Ako Bicol topped the party list race, getting 230,698 votes, representing 56.71 percent of votes cast in Albay. —MA. APRIL MIER-MANJARES

GMA sis-in-law is new Negros representative

BACOLOD CITY—Ma. Lourdes Arroyo Lesaca, sister-in-law of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was proclaimed representative of Negros Occidental’s fifth congressional district. Lesaca, sister of Arroyo’s husband Mike, ran unopposed but managed to get 105,227 votes. She will serve the congressional district that her brother, the late Ignacio Arroyo Jr., represented. —CARLA P. GOMEZ

Family loses big in Bohol town

TAGBILARAN CITY—Three members of a family ruling Loay town in Bohol province lost in different races during Monday’s local elections. The patriarch, outgoing Loay Vice Mayor Brigido Imboy, failed to win a seat in the eight-member town council. His wife, Rosemarie Lim-Imboy, lost to Councilor Hilario Ayuban Jr. in the mayoral race. She received 4,888 votes, while Ayuban got 5,732 votes. Imboy’s daughter, reelectionist Mayor Rochelle Brigitte Imboy-Abutazil lost to Rodrigo Cubarol Jr. —LEO UDTOHAN

Umalis, Josons keep Nueva Ecija posts

CABANATUAN CITY—In Nueva Ecija, the Umali clan retained its hold of the province’s top posts as its patriarch, former Gov. Aurelio Umali, was elected governor. His brother and running mate, Vice Mayor Anthony Umali, also won. But Aurelio’s wife, incumbent Gov. Czarina Umali, failed in her bid to regain her seat in the third congressional district, which she held before she became governor in 2016. Czarina lost to reelected Rep. Rosanna Vergara, whose family expanded its grip on Cabanatuan City with the election of incumbent Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara as vice mayor and his daughter Myca as mayor. Members of the Joson political clan are keeping three key positions in the province. Quezon town Mayor Mariano Cristino Joson and his son, Vice Mayor Dean Joson, ran unopposed while Cabanatuan City Councilor EJ Joson won a seat in the provincial board. But incumbent Board Member Edward Thomas Joson lost his bid for vice governor while his uncle, former National Food Authority administrator and former Gov. Eduardo Nonato Joson lost in the gubernatorial race. —ARMAND GALANG

‘Narcopol’ defeats Du30 ally in Bulacan mayoral race

SAN RAFAEL, BULACAN—A retired police general, who served as President Duterte’s consultant on counterterrorism, lost the mayoral race here to a suspected narcopolitician. Francisco “Frank” Villaroman was defeated by reelectionist Mayor Cipriano “Goto” Violago by 25,328 votes. Violago obtained 36,508 votes while Villaroman garnered 11,180 votes. Violago’s name appeared twice on the government’s list of narcopoliticians. Villaroman served as head of Davao City public safety and security council when Duterte was city mayor. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE

Neophyte to push Rizal split as priority bill

Considering himself a “neophyte” in politics, lawyer Fidel Nograles vows “more representation” for residents of Rizal province by pushing the creation of a new congressional district. Nograles, 32, won as second district representative, over Maridee Rodriguez, wife of incumbent Rep. Isidro Rodriguez Jr. “With more representation, the people will be able to enjoy more projects which will uplift their living conditions,” he said in a statement on Thursday. —MARICAR CINCO