Political dynasties continue in northern, Central Luzon

BAGUIO CITY—Dynasties are running rampant in central and northern Luzon.

In Ilocos Norte alone, at least seven couples are aspiring to extend their conjugal partnerships.

Of these, five wives are running for mayor to replace their husbands.

They are Chevylle Fariñas (Laoag City) whose husband, Michael, served as mayor from 2004 to this year; Arlene Torralba (Badoc), whose husband, Thomas, served for nine years as mayor; Lairvee Espiritu (Dumalneg), whose husband, Francisco, served as mayor for nine years; Matilde Sales (Pagudpud), whose husband, Reynolan, is a three-time mayor; and Melanie Valdez (San Nicolas), whose husband, Alfredo Jr., also served for nine years.

Salvacion Cimatu of Bangui is running with her husband, Fidel Jr., a former provincial board member, while Aldrin Garvida of Nueva Era is running with his wife, Caroline, who is mayor for nine years.

Couples Torralba of Badoc and Espiritu of Dumalneg are running unopposed.

Other interesting tandems are the father-and-son teams in Solsona and Banna towns. Jonathan de Lara and his father, Joseph, are running unopposed in Solsona while Carlito Abadilla is running for mayor with his son, Carlito II, as vice mayor.

There’s the daughter-mother team in Currimao and Dingras towns. Reelectionist Gladys Cue is running for mayor with her mother, Rosario Go, as running mate.

Former Dingras Mayor Marynette Gamboa, who was reelected in the 2010 elections but was later disqualified because of a criminal case in the United States, is again running for mayor.

The Commission on Elections again excluded her candidacy because of the same case. Gamboa, however, has appealed the poll body’s decision.

Her daughter, Tiffany, is running for vice mayor.

In Batac City, Jeffrey Nalupta, is running for a third term with his cousin, Ronald Allan, as his running mate. They are unopposed.

In Pangasinan, three towns and a city have father-and-son tandems. They are Mayor Alain Jerico Perez and Vice Mayor Salvador Perez in San Manuel; Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay and Vice Mayor Roy Macanlalay in Calasiao; former Mayor Douglas Soriano and Jack Lester Soriano in San Carlos City; and Mayor Benjamin Lim and Councilor Brian Lim in Dagupan City.

In Rosales, Mayor Ricardo Revita, who is completing his last term, fielded his wife, Patricia, in the mayoral race. Revita is running for vice mayor.

Urbiztondo Mayor Ernesto Balolong and his wife, Mirla, are running for the top two positions in the town.

Brothers Julier and Joseres Resuello are running for their third terms as mayor and vice mayor of San Carlos City. In Malasiqui, brothers Armando and Sofronio are running for mayor and vice mayor.

In San Nicolas, Mayor Leoncio Saldivar’s wife, Rebecca, is running for mayor while his brother, Leomar, is running for vice mayor.

In Nueva Ecija, Aliaga Mayor Marcial Vargas is seeking the vice mayoral seat while his wife, Vice Mayor Elizabeth Vargas, is seeking the mayoral post. Their son, Gelo, is running for councilor.

In Pantabangan town, Mayor Romeo Borja Sr. has again teamed up with his son, Vice Mayor Romeo Jr., for their reelection bids. In Nampicuan town, Mayor Ubaldino Lacurom is running for reelection with his daughter, Vice Mayor Cora Lacurom-Villanueva.

General Tinio Mayor Virgilio Bote, who is running unopposed, has teamed up with cousin, Ferdinand Bote, who is seeking the vice mayor’s seat.

In Bataan, Gov. Enrique Garcia Jr. is running for representative of the province’s second district while his son, Rep. Albert Raymond Garcia, is running for governor against Dinalupihan Mayor Joel Payumo.

Another Garcia child, Gila, is running for mayor of Dinalupihan against Jojo Payumo, older brother of Joel.

Former Rep. Felicito Payumo, an uncle of  the Payumos, is pitted against reelectionist Rep. Herminia Roman in the first district.

Garcia’s other son, Jose Enrique III, is seeking reelection as Balanga City mayor.

In Pampanga, Gov. Lilia Pineda is seeking a second term with her son, Dennis, as running mate.

Pampanga Rep. Carmelo Lazatin is back in the Angeles City mayoral race while his son and namesake is running for councilor. Angeles Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan is aiming for a second term while his son and namesake is seeking reelection as councilor.

In Mabalacat City, Mayor Marino Morales is gunning for another term while his daughter, Marjorie Sambo, is running for vice mayor.

In Bacolor town, Mayor Jose Maria Hizon is running with his mother, Lolita.

In Candaba town, Mayor Jerry Pelayo is aspiring to represent the fourth congressional district while his son, Patrick,

is running for mayor.

In Mexico town, Mayor Teddy Tumang is eyeing a seat in the provincial board while his brother, Alex, is seeking to replace him.

In Magalang town, brothers Daniel and Norman Lacson are running for mayor and vice mayor.

In Sto. Tomas town, former Mayor Romeo Ronquillo is running for mayor with his wife, Gloria, as running mate.

In Zambales, Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. is seeking reelection against former Gov. Amor Deloso. Deloso’s daughter, Cheryl Deloso-Montalla, is challenging the reelection bid of Ebdane’s son, Rep. Jun  Omar Ebdane, in the second district.

Deloso’s son, Ad Hebert, who is incumbent mayor of the capital Iba, is facing another Ebdane son, Jun Rundstedt or Rundy, in his reelection bid.

In Bulacan, Norzagaray Mayor Feliciano Legaspi is running for reelection while his son, Councilor Arthur Legaspi, is aspiring to become vice mayor.  Reports from Cristina Arzadon, Gabriel Cardinoza, Yolanda Sotelo and Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon, and Jo Martinez-Clemente, Tonette Orejas, Armand Galang, Anselmo Roque, Greg Refraccion, Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Cesar Villa and Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon