All politics is local: Win, loss record of local backers of Marcos, Robredo

IMAGE: Daniella Marie Agacer

MANILA, Philippines—Presidential candidates Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Leni Robredo barnstormed cities and provinces all over the Philippines in the last three months to woo not only voters, but local candidates in a display of belief in the saying that all politics is local.

Maria Ela Atienza, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, had said endorsements by political leaders in the grassroots reflected a broad range of interests, stressing that it could really sway votes.

RELATED STORY: Local campaigns take off, show conflicting endorsements in presidential race

Last April, one of the last local officials to endorse Marcos was Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez while Basilan Governor Jim Hataman-Salliman came out to back Robredo’s presidential bid.

READ: Marcos Jr. secures backing of Laguna Gov. Hernandez

GRAPHIC: Kurt Dela Peña

With the latest partial and unofficial results of the elections, which already represent 98.35 percent of election returns, Marcos is set for a landslide win with 31,104,175 votes while Robredo is second with only 14,822,051.

READ: Marcos, Duterte head for landslide win

INQUIRER.net lists down some results from the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) Transparency Media Server to show what happened to local candidates who endorsed Marcos and Robredo:

• Cebu

Cebu, the most vote-rich province with 3,288,778 registered voters, was where Marcos was endorsed by One Cebu, which is led by Governor Gwen Garcia.

RELATED STORY: Endorsements: ‘Tell me who your friends are…’

Like Garcia, who won as governor with 1,478,436 votes, Marcos also had a commanding lead in the province that backed Robredo in 2016. Marcos won with 1,055,985 votes against Robredo’s 391,080.

Vice Governor Hilario Davide III, who endorsed Robredo’s presidential bid, was once again elected with 788,081 votes.

• Cavite

Cavite, one of the most vote-rich provinces with 2,302,353 registered voters, was also one of the most controversial—its governor, Jonvic Remulla, once promised Marcos 800,000 votes while one of its district representatives, Boying Remulla, slammed Robredo’s rally in General Trias, Cavite.

The two, based on 99.94 percent of election returns, are set to win as governor and representative with 1,368,199 and 202,784 votes, respectively. Marcos won in the province with 1,121,108 votes against Robredo’s 497,630.

Robredo was endorsed by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, who went against his own National Unity Party’s (NUP) decision to back Marcos’ presidential bid. Barzaga won with 278,386 votes.

RELATED STORY: Local bets endorsing Robredo proof that campaign gaining momentum — spox

GRAPHIC: Kurt Dela Peña

• Laguna

Laguna is also one of the most vote-rich provinces with 2,045,687 registered voters. Its governor, Hernandez, was one of the last local officials to declare endorsement for Marcos, who won in the province with 925,307 votes.

Hernandez, based on 98.6 percent of election returns, is expected to still keep his grip on Laguna’s highest office with 872,378 votes against his closest rival, Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones’ 630,232 votes.

Aragones endorsed Robredo, who got 503,190 votes in the province.

• Pangasinan

In Pangasinan, which is also a vote-rich province with 2,096,936 registered voters, while rivals for the province’s highest office shared a common ground in endorsing Marcos’ presidential bid last February, only one candidate could be the next governor—it’s Ramon Guico (885,272) who won against Amado Espino III (697,465).

Marcos won in Pangasinan with 1,295,814 votes against Robredo’s 248,056.

This, even after the De Venecias endorsed Robredo when she visited Pangasinan last April. Christopher de Venecia, who endorsed Robredo, won as Pangasinan representative with 213,020 votes.

• Bulacan

Bulacan, which has 2,007,523 registered voters, saw its governor, Daniel Fernando, endorse Robredo last March 14, saying that he saw how she served the Philippines.

As the elections ended last Monday (May 9), Bulacan saw Fernando’s win against Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, the vice governor who endorsed Marcos. Fernando got 973,749 votes while Sy-Alvarado only got 576,783.

Robredo, however, lost to Marcos in Bulacan—493,637 against 1,024,069 votes.

• Albay

Albay is one of the few provinces where Robredo won. She got 608,779 votes here while Marcos got 112,651.

Robredo was endorsed by three local candidates in Albay—Representatives Edcel Lagman and Joey Salceda and Governor Francis Bichara.

Lagman and Salceda won reelection with 169,139 and 225,851 votes. However, Bichara lost to Noel Rosal—238,746 against 469,481 votes.

GRAPHIC: Kurt Dela Peña

• Basilan

Robredo was endorsed by Hataman-Salliman, one of the last governors to endorse her. He won with 117,961 votes against Alfiya Akbar’s 79,093.

READ: Basilan governor endorses Robredo

House Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman, who said that Robredo was the “best chance for peace” in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, won with 133,784 votes.

Robredo, however, lost in Basilan since she got only 50,373 votes while Marcos got 141,064.

• Eastern Samar

Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone went up against PDP-Laban’s decision to endorse Marcos.

Instead, he backed Robredo’s presidential bid, saying that “for me and for millions of Filipinos, there is only one decisive and compassionate lawyer […] she is VP Leni”.

Evardone was elected once again with 211,039 votes against Petronilo Abuyen Jr.’s 21,440. Robredo also won in Eastern Samar with 123,868 votes against Marcos’ 107,415.

• Bataan

Last March 17, Marcos was endorsed by Bataan Governor Albert Garcia and Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman.

Garcia’s brother, Joet, won as Bataan’s new governor with 376,924 votes while Roman was elected as representative with 107,496 votes.

• Cagayan

In Cagayan, Marcos was endorsed by Governor Manuel Mamba while Katrina Enrile, daughter of the late dictator’s defense minister, Juan Ponce Enrile, also backed his presidential bid.

Marcos won in Cagayan with 556,613 votes against Robredo’s 47,384. Mamba also won as governor with 302,025 votes. However, Enrile lost her bid to become Cagayan representative as she only received 77,116 votes.

• Iloilo

It was in Iloilo where Robredo was endorsed by Governor Toto Defensor and Rep. Mike Gorriceta. Marcos, meanwhile, was endorsed by Rep. Janette Garin.

Robredo won against Marcos in Iloilo with 579,525 votes while Marcos received 374,144 votes.

Defensor was once again elected with 891,980 votes against Noli Gil’s 25,919. Gorriceta and Garin also won with 155,133 and 148,558 votes.

• Davao del Norte

In Davao del Norte, where Robredo was endorsed by Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, who previously backed the presidential bid of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Marcos won with 470,567 votes against Robredo’s 470,567.

Alvarez, however, is still expected to keep his grip on his congressional seat with 143,057 votes against Bong Aala’s 107,156 votes.

• Pampanga

Both Marcos and Robredo’s activities in Pampanga drew immense crowds, however, it was Marcos who was backed by local candidates, especially former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is returning as representative.

Marcos won in Pampanga with 735,245 votes against Robredo’s 314,615.

His endorsers in the province also won in their election bids—Arroyo as Pampanga second district representative (233,042) and Delta Pineda as governor (648,042).

• Caloocan City

It was last Feb. 20 when Caloocan City mayor Oscar Malapitan, who was then seeking a House of Representatives seat, endorsed the presidential bid of Marcos.

Malapitan won with 195,705 votes while his son, Dale, also won as city mayor with 314,903 votes. His rival, Egay Erice, had 242,086 votes.

Marcos won in the city with 361,464 votes against Robredo’s 153,205.

• Mandaluyong City

Benjamin Abalos Sr., the former chairman of Comelec who ran for Mandaluyong City’s highest office, endorsed Marcos on March 27. His son, Benjamin Jr., is Marcos’ campaign manager.

Abalos Sr. won with 137,713 votes while his rival, Florencio Solomon, only got 24,620. His daughter-in-law, Menchie, who ran as vice mayor, also won with 149,643 votes.

Marcos won in Mandaluyong City with 101,625 votes against Robredo’s 64,054.

GRAPHIC: Kurt Dela Peña

• Valenzuela City

When the UniTeam went to Valenzuela City on Feb. 10, Marcos was endorsed by mayor Rex Gatchalian as president. Sen. Win Gatchalian, his brother, is part of the UniTeam.

Rex, who had no rival for representative of Valenzuela City’s first district, won with 141,794 votes while his brother, Wes, won with 275,650 votes against Bombit Bernardo’s 75,026 votes.

Marcos won in Valenzuela City with 225,021 votes against Robredo’s 101,529.

• Quezon City

It was last year when Malayang QC, led by Rep. Mike Defensor (Anakalusugan), endorsed Marcos’ presidential bid, however, Defensor, who ran as Quezon City mayor, lost with only 407,506 votes. His rival, Joy Belmonte, won with 645,580 votes.

Onyx Crisologo (52,554) and Precious Castelo (94,275), who were with Defensor in Malayang QC, also lost their bids for the first and second districts of Quezon City. Arjo Atayde (111,742) and Ralph Tulfo Jr. (124,780) won.

Marcos, however, still won in Quezon City with 629,509 votes against Robredo’s 376,102 votes.

• Las Piñas City

Marcos was endorsed by the Villars and the Aguilars in Las Piñas City last March, when the UniTeam said Marcos’ activities had a crowd of 500,000, a claim that was dismissed by the police, saying there were only 18,000.

Regardless of the crowd, however, Marcos still won in Las Piñas City with 137,114 votes against Robredo’s 78,928 votes.

Marcos’ landslide win was also seen in his endorsers—Imelda Aguilar won as mayor with 108,644 votes while Camille Villar, sister of Mark Villar, who is part of the UniTeam, also won with 130,812 votes.

• Marikina City

The UniTeam’s event in Marikina City on March 19 drew an immense crowd, with former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair and Marikina Rep. Bayani Fernando seen with Marcos.

While Marcos won in Marikina City with 114,956 votes against Robredo’s 92,264, Fernando (40,149), who ran for mayor, lost to Marcy Teodoro (183,878), who endorsed no one for the presidency.

Stella Quimbo, who endorsed Robredo for president, won as Marikina second district representative with 103,108 votes.

GRAPHIC: Kurt Dela Peña

• City of Manila

While Marcos won in Manila in 2016, its mayor, Isko Moreno, was one of Marcos’ rivals for the presidency in 2022. Moreno was endorsed by Asenso Manileño, led by Honey Lacuna while Marcos was endorsed by Lacuna’s rival, Alex Lopez.

However, like in Quezon City and Marikina City, Marcos’ 350,145 votes did not seal a win for Lopez (163,292), who lost to Lacuna (526,054), the first female mayor to serve Manila.

Marcos won in Manila while Moreno and Robredo only got 290,441 and 192,925 votes.

• Muntinlupa City

Last March 1, Robredo visited Muntinlupa City where she was endorsed by its local executive, Jaime Fresnedi, who was then seeking a House of Representatives seat.

While Robredo (88,889) lost to Marcos (136,465) in Muntinlupa City, Fresnedi, who had 183,085 votes, won against Silverio Garing, who only had 52,530 votes.

GRAPHIC: Kurt Dela Peña

• San Juan City

Local executive Francis Zamora, who ended the 50-year reign of the Estradas in San Juan City when he won last 2019, endorsed Marcos in February, saying “San Juan is his home”.

Zamora won in his bid to remain as San Juan City’s local chief executive with 66,883 votes against Jun Usman’s 9,413 votes.

Marcos also won in San Juan City with 42,636 votes against Robredo’s 30,392.

• Cagayan de Oro City

“To be on the right side of history,” House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez endorsed Robredo’s presidential bid last March 13. The Centrist Democratic Party also said it will back Robredo.

While Robredo, who only had 33,780 votes, lost to Marcos’ 233,325 in Cagayan de Oro City, Rodriguez still won with 126,106 votes against Irene Floro’s 23,153.

• Davao City

One of President Rodrigo Duterte’s sons, Baste, endorsed Marcos, who has Davao City mayor Sara Duterte as a vice presidential candidate.

Baste won with 597,082 votes against his closest rival, Ruy Elias Lopez, who only had 67,615.

In the city led by the Dutertes for over 20 years now, Marcos won with 624,357 votes against Robredo’s 30,529 votes.

• Cebu City

It was last January when Cebu City mayor Michael Rama endorsed Marcos, saying his declaration “ends this specific saga in what we call the waiting time”.

Rama, who became mayor when Edgar Labella died last year, won with 226,328 votes against Margot Osmeña’s 190,836 votes. The Osmeña-led Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan endorsed Robredo for president.

Marcos won in Cebu City with 325,060 votes against Robredo’s 151,436 votes.

• Naga City

Naga City was all out for Robredo as two of the leading candidates for mayor in the city—Nelson Legacion and John Bongat—both had Robredo as president.

Robredo’s husband, Jesse, served as Naga City local chief executive for 19 years. She won in Naga City with 87,940 votes while Marcos only had 9,274.

Legacion won as Naga City mayor with 41,606 votes. Bongat was third with 24,748 votes.

Gabriel Bordado Jr., who also endorsed Robredo for president, won with 50,885 votes.

• Tacloban City

The Romualdezes, relatives of Marcos’ mother, Imelda, endorsed his presidential bid. He won with 99,613 votes against Robredo’s 12,585.

Likewise, his relatives, Alfred Romualdez and Martin Romualdez, won as mayor and congressman with 63,976 and 83,601 votes, respectively.

• Zamboanga City

It was last March when Zamboanga City mayor Beng Climaco endorsed Robredo’s presidential bid, saying “Zamboanga, let us remember who stood before us, even [if] others will not”.

“Let’s win our fight for good governance,” she told the crowd  in Zamboanga City’s Climaco Freedom Park.

Robredo, however, lost to Marcos in Zamboanga City—54,332 votes against 222,178. Climaco, who ran for Zamboanga first district representative, also lost with only 54,035 votes against Khymer Olaso’s 71,717 votes.

• Iloilo City

Iloilo City was one of the first that came out for Robredo as its local chief executive, Jerry Treñas, posted photos and comments on social media last year to express his preference for Robredo.

Treñas, who is part of the NUP, even defied his coalition’s endorsement of Marcos, saying “We found it very nice to have someone at the national level who was always around to help us”.

Robredo won in Iloilo City with 149,256 votes against Marcos, who only had 85,117. Treñas also defended his seat with 187,691 votes against Jun Capulot’s 54,552 votes.

• Ormoc City

Ormoc City local chief executive Richard Gomez said last February that he was endorsing Marcos because he was the only one who helped his city when there were disasters, even when PressOne’s fact-check revealed that Robredo and Sen. Manny Pacquiao also extended help to Ormoc City.

Regardless, Marcos won in Ormoc City with 84,215 votes against Robredo’s 15,346. Gomez also won as congressman with 69,681 votes against Goyo Larrazabal’s 50,085. His wife, Lucy, won as mayor with 73,866 votes.

Here are the rest of the endorsers:

• Benguet

Melchor Diclas, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 112,345 votes

• Leyte

Icot Petilla, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 546,395 votes

• Antique

Dodo Cadiao, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with, 217,573 votes

• Maguindanao

Bai Mariam Mangudadatu, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with, 326,798 votes while Esmael Mangudadatu, who endorsed Moreno then Robredo, lost as he only received 208,763 votes

• Misamis Oriental

Oscar Moreno and Juliette Uy, who both endorsed Robredo, lost as they only received 89,404 and 182,130 votes, respectively. Peter Unabia, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 248,859 votes.

• Quezon

Danny Suarez, who endorsed Marcos, lost in his bid to get elected as governor again as he only received 320,296 votes.

• Surigao del Norte

Francisco Matugas, who endorsed Robredo, lost his bid as he only received 141,784 votes.

• Zambales

Hermogenes Ebdane, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 199,874 votes.

• Batanes

Marilou Cayco, who endorsed Robredo, won as governor with 6,489 votes.

• Bohol

Arthur Yap, who endorsed Marcos, lost his bid as he only received 141,784 votes.

• Camarines Norte

Edgardo Tallado, who endorsed Marcos, lost his bid as he only received 141,784 votes.

• Catanduanes

Joseph Cua, who endorsed Robredo, won as governor with 101,838 votes.

• Isabela

Rodito Albano, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 670,367 votes.

• Mountain Province

Bonifacio Lacwasan, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 74,871 votes

• Quirino

Dax Cua, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 82,377 votes.

• Aklan

Joen Miraflores, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 196,897 votes

• Batangas

Dodo Mandanas, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 927,698 votes

• Bukidnon

Manuel Zubiri, who endorsed Marcos, lost his gubernatorial bid as he got only 361,426 votes

• Camarines Sur

Luigi Villafuerte, who endorsed Robredo, won as governor with 492,415 votes while Nonoy Andaya, who also endorsed Robredo, lost as he only received 416,434 votes.

• Dinagat Islands

Kaka Bag-ao, who endorsed Robredo, lost as she only received 25,552 votes.

• Ilocos Norte

Matthew Manotoc, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 261,885 votes.

• Masbate

Tony Kho, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 250,493 votes.

• Negros Occidental

Bong Lacson, who endorsed Robredo, won as governor with 933,572 votes.

• Rizal

Nina Ynares, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 951,315 votes.

• Tarlac

Susan Yap, who endorsed Marcos, won as governor with 598,224 votes.

RELATED STORY: The unflattering international media coverage of Bongbong Marcos’ rise

TSB