Villafuertes: ‘Lolo’ loses to his ‘apo’

NAGA CITY—The influential Villafuerte clan has found its long hold on politics slipping in Camarines Sur with only one of its family members, the youngest at that, heading for a win by trouncing his own grandfather in the gubernatorial race.

The rest of its members are facing defeat in the hands of the widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and the reelectionist congressman-son of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Miguel “Migz” Villafuerte, 23, topped the race for governor with 170,841 votes, leading by a margin of almost 40,000 votes over his estranged grandfather, Rep. Luis Villafuerte (Nationalist People’s Coalition), who had 131,627, according to the latest tally of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) posted on its website at noon yesterday.

Luis could not be contacted for comment, but his supporters said he was set to file a petition to stop the canvassing of votes because of the supposed malfunction of PCOS machines in some areas.

(The provincial board of canvassers initially decided to start the canvass at 10 p.m. on Monday but decided to postpone it until after midnight. Canvassing was suspended several times until the poll body decided to reset it to 8 a.m. Wednesday.)

Gov. LRay Villafuerte, on the other hand, remained silent about the impending victory of his son Migz and his own looming defeat to reelectionist Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo in the second district. He got only 39,774 votes against Arroyo’s 46,604 in the unofficial count of the Comelec.

The  gubernatorial candidate of the Liberal Party (LP), Joel Cadiz, was trailing behind the two Villafuertes with 97,686 votes.

Luis’ wife, Nelly, was likewise trounced in a landslide victory by Leni Robredo (LP) in the third district for the congressional seat he will be vacating. Robredo garnered 107,496 votes against Nelly’s 29,813, the Comelec unofficial count showed.

A scion of another influential political clan in Camarines Sur, Wimpy Fuentebella (Nationalist People’s Coalition), was also trailing behind actor-turned-politician Aga Muhlach (LP). Muhlach garnered 45,131 votes against Fuentebella’s 41,059 votes in the Comelec transparency observer count.

But the Fuentebella camp claimed that Wimpy was actually leading Muhlach, citing copies of the Comelec count per municipality. His younger brother, Mayor Arnulfo Fuentebella Jr. of Tigaon town, said Wimpy was ahead by 2,295 votes.

Arnulfo said the returns from the towns of Tigaon, Sagñay and Siruma were still being awaited, but that Wimpy was already assured of victory. The crucial area, he said, was Caramoan, where Wimpy was supposedly ahead by a margin of 4,116 votes. Wimpy got 11,497 votes in Caramoan while Muhlach had only 7,381 votes, he added.

In the first district, reelectionist Rep. Rolando Andaya (Lakas) led by a wide margin (45,957 votes) against Nestor de los Reyes (Nacionalista Party), who got 4,578 votes.

In the fifth district, Rep. Salvio Fortuno (LP) was headed for victory in his reelection bid with 60,352 votes against Felix Alfelor (NPC), 33,196, and character actor Rez Cortez (United Nationalist Alliance), 11,142.

Pampanga

The province has increasingly become a turf of the Pineda family and its allies through the local party, Kambilan.

Comelec data as of 10 a.m. Tuesday showed Gov. Lilia Pineda leading with 444,989 votes against former Gov. Eddie Panlilio’s 111,794. Pineda’s son and running mate, Dennis, is leading the LP’s Maria Amalia Tiglao-Cayanan in the race for vice governor.

This is the first time in the provincial political landscape where a mother and her son will occupy two top public offices at the same time.

Pineda’s allies—Joseller “Yeng” Guiao, former President Arroyo and Juan Pablo Bondoc—led the congressional races in the first, second and fourth districts.

The provincial legislative board looked to be Kambilan-controlled, with seven members leading the count.

Cavite

Although seven towns and cities had yet to transmit the election results, Rep. Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi on Tuesday conceded defeat in the gubernatorial race to reelectionist Gov. Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla “for the peace and stability of our province.”

Remulla, who ran under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, was consistently leading with 264,095 votes against LP’s Maliksi based on partial results from the Comelec.

In a text message to the Inquirer, Remulla, 45, described the elections as “a seminal moment for Cavite politics.”

Maliksi, in a phone interview, agreed that the polls might heal the long-standing differences between him and the Remullas. “I do not wish for the people to be divided over politics,” he added.

The 74-year-old Maliksi said he was bowing out of politics but promised to support the government’s programs for Cavite.

“In my own little ways, as a private citizen, I can still help,” he said.

In Bacoor City, the Election Day drama at the residence of the Revillas ended with a triumph for Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s son and actor Jolo, who also swept the vice gubernatorial race against LP candidate Jay Lacson.

Jolo, Remulla’s running mate, was way ahead with 255,381 votes against Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s son with 146,542 as of noon yesterday.

General Santos

Two billionaire politicians dethroned the last scion of the Antoninos who dominated politics in General Santos City for almost three decades.

As of Tuesday morning, mayoral candidate Ronnel Rivera of the People’s Champ Movement-United Nationalist Alliance (PCM-UNA) led his rival, incumbent Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio of the Liberal Party-Achievements with Integrity Movement (LP-AIM), by more than 14,000 votes.

Custodio is the eldest daughter of Adelbert Antonino, former mayor and congressman, and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson, Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino. She was undefeated as congressional representative of South Cotabato’s first district from 2001 to 2007 and became mayor in 2010.

Rivera teamed up with Rogelio Pacquiao, younger brother of boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, who lost to Custodio by over 30,000 votes in the 2007 congressional race.

As of Tuesday noon, Custodio’s congressional running mate, incumbent Rep. Pedro B. Acharon, Jr., was leading by a slim margin against Rogelio.

Cagayan de Oro

Relectionist Mayor Vicente Emano of Cagayan de Oro City headed for the exit door as his rival, former Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno, kept a big lead in the canvassing of votes.

Emano was a three-term governor of Misamis Oriental.

Davao

The Dutertes and their allies still lord it over in Davao City.

Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ran unopposed for mayor, while his son, Paolo, will take over his post.

The majority of the winning local officials belong to Duterte’s Hugpong political party, except for the first district, where reelectionist Rep. Karlo Nograles won.

In Davao del Sur, partial results of the official canvass as of 2 p.m. showed Gov. Douglas Cagas trailing reelectionist Digos City Mayor Joseph Peñas by nearly 5,700 votes.

Peñas had earlier been predicted to lose heavily to Cagas due to his limited machinery and political support from village chiefs. The mayor pulled a surprise when he got 37,414 votes against Cagas’ 31,723.

Suffering the same fate as Cagas is his son, first district Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas, who took the challenge to face his father’s political nemesis, former second district Rep. Claude Bautista. The elder Cagas easily defeated Bautista in 2010, but in this year’s gubernatorial race, Marc was about 24,178 votes behind Bautista’s 101,511.

Cagas’ wife, Mercedes, was leading Vice Gov. Arsenio Latasa by 5,501 votes in the first district congressional race.

Agusan

Agusan del Norte Gov. Ma. Angelica Amante-Matba and her brother Erlpe John, who is seeking a congressional seat in the first district, had no rivals.

Their cousin, reelectionist Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. (LP) of Butuan City, was leading in the count.

In Agusan del Sur, the Plazas are holding on to their old seats despite the challenge from LP candidates.

Based on unofficial results at the provincial canvassing of the Comelec, Rep. Maria Evelyn Plaza-Mellana (second district) is fighting toe-to-toe with her brother, former Rep. Rodolfo Plaza.

Reelectionist Gov. Adolph Edward is enjoying a comfortable margin over his closest rival, Dicken Otero. His running mate, reelectionist Vice Gov. Santi Cane Jr. also took a commanding lead over Adolph Edward’s elder brother Victor.

The entire slate of provincial board under Adolph Edward’s National Unity Party swept all the 10 seats in the two provincial districts.

Reelectionist Rep. Maria Valentina Plaza (first district) was also leading her closest rival, Bob Aquino.—With reports from Christian Taduran, Dyna Apatin, Loen May Gonzales and Aycel Narvaez, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon; Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Aquiles Z. Zonio, Danilo Adorador III, Cai Panlilio, Alan Nawal, Chris Panganiban, Inquirer Mindanao