Cebu dynasties take a beating

Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City’s south district) has lost in the city’s mayoral race to incumbent Mayor Mike Rama. Political families that have been dominating parts of Cebu province including the Osmeñas are slowly losing their grip on power based on results of the canvassing of votes in Monday’s midterm elections. congress.gov.ph

CEBU CITY—Political families that have been dominating parts of Cebu province are slowly losing their grip on power based on results of the canvassing of votes in Monday’s midterm elections.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City’s south district) lost in the city’s mayoral race to incumbent Mayor Mike Rama. In another mayoral contest in Talisay City, outgoing Rep. Eduardo Gullas suffered his first electoral defeat in his decades-old political career to a man who had lost twice in previous polls.

And the Garcias appeared to be facing a similar fate.

Based on partial and unofficial results, Rep. Pablo John Garcia was tailing in the gubernatorial race, along with his father, Rep. Pablo Garcia, in the second congressional district.

Pablo John’s brother, Marlon, lost in his mayoral bid in Barili town, while their sister, suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, was still battling it out in the congressional race in the third district. Another brother, Nelson,  was slightly ahead in his quest for another mayoral term in Dumanjug town.

Osmeña tasted his first poll defeat in a political stint that spanned 26 years to Rama, a former ally, by a margin of 6,376 votes. Rama got 217,448 votes while Osmeña had 211,072.

The board of canvassers proclaimed Rama the winner yesterday afternoon even if results from three precincts were not canvassed because the counting machines’ memory cards were defective. The three precincts only account for 2,952 votes.

But Osmeña said he would never concede defeat and would consider filing a protest as an option. “It’s a combination of money, intimidation and computerization. Why computerization? Because it’s slower than manual counting,” he said.

Comeback

Former Sen. John “Sonny” Osmeña is headed for a comeback after suffering several political defeats. He won as mayor of Toledo, about 50 kilometers west of the city, defeating the incumbent, Aurelio Espinosa, whose family has dominated the city for more than two decades.

Espinosa’s daughter Vice Mayor Arlene “Daydee” Zambo lost to Sonny’s running mate, Dr. Antonio Yapha, a former congressman in the third district.

Sonny told the Inquirer that he was thankful for his victory but “disappointed” with the Comelec. “I  strongly suspect the Comelec was instrumental in the manipulation of votes,” he said in a phone interview.

He didn’t attend his proclamation on Tuesday and would file an election protest on behalf of his losing candidates for councilors. Only three of his candidates made it.

Gullases

The allies of Gullas were shocked over the congressman’s defeat to Johnny de los Reyes, who owns a company that produces drugs for mouth ulcers, in the mayoral race in Talisay, 12 kilometers south of here.

The Comelec was set to proclaim De los Reyes winner Tuesday afternoon, along with his running mate, Romeo Villarante. In the official canvass, De los Reyes had 39,453 votes while Gullas got 38,717, or a slim margin of 736 votes.

“In my long political career, I won in all elections, except this last one,” Gullas said in a statement. “Against the advice of my lawyers and loyal supporters, I humbly concede to my worthy opponent.”

Gullas was losing his clout in Talisay since his grandson, Eduardo Digul, slipped from being No. 1 councilor in 2010 to 10th spot this election. However, another grandson, Gerard Anthony, will assume his congressional post since he is running unopposed.

Garcias

Pablo Garcia was losing his congressional seat in the second district based on partial, unofficial results from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) to a former ally, Board Member Wilfredo Caminero. Garcia had 66,876 votes while Caminero garnered 74,193.

In the gubernatorial race, Pablo John Garcia was tailing Hilario Davide III by more than 100,000 votes based on the PPCRV count. His brother, Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia of Barili town lost the mayoral fight in the municipality to the incumbent mayor, Teresito Mariñas (Liberal Party).

But another brother, Mayor Nelson Garcia of Dumanjug was enjoying a small margin against Cesar Baricuatro, a former mayor.

Gwendolyn was battling it out in the third congressional district against Mayor Geraldine Yapha of Pinamungahan town.—Jhunnex Napallacan, Doris Bongcac, Carmel Matus and Chito Aragon, Inquirer Visayas