Mayor-elect wife vows continuity as she takes over husband’s post in Cotabato town
WIFE-HUSBAND TEAM. Mayor-elect Evangeline Pascua-Guzman (center) of Kabacan, Cotabato, and husband, outgoing town mayor Herlo Guzmanh Jr., elected as vice mayor, took their oath of office before Municipal Trial Court Judge Eugene Tancinco. (Photo from LGU Kabacan)
COTABATO CITY—A couple in Kabacan town, Cotabato province who ran and were elected as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, vowed to push aggressively for more development programs that will help improve the lives of their constituents after they took their oath of office.
This is the first time in the history of Cotabato province that a wife-husband tandem won in the local elections.
Councilor Evangeline Pascua-Guzman was elected mayor of Kabacan while her husband, outgoing mayor Herlo Guzman Jr, was elected vice mayor.
They recently took their oath before Municipal Trial Court Judge Eugene Tancinco.
Councilor Pascua-Guzman sits as as ex-officio member of the municipal council, being president of Liga ng mga Barangay.
“For continuity, I will be pushing for all the development programs that the current administration had started,” Pascua-Guzman said.
“My leadership will be accompanied by motherly love for her children,” she said, adding that she will serve and love the people of Kabacan the way she loved and served her children.
Outgoing mayor Guzman told reporters that the political dynasty issue hurled against them will not affect their governance since they have the mandate of the electorate.
Based on official results, councilor Pascua-Guzman had 18,338 votes, more than 5,000 votes over her rival, while her husband, mayor Guzman Jr. got 25,636 votes, more than 15,000 votes over his rival candidate.
Barangay Poblacion councilor Edna Macaya will replace Pascua Guzman as village chair of Barangay Poblacion while Barangay Katidtuan chairperson Bienvenido Ticbe took her post as president of Liga ng mga Barangay and a seat in the Sangguniang Bayan.
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