Parañaque City sees new mayor in Olivarez

MANILA, Philippines —In Parañaque City, Representative Edwin Olivarez enjoyed a landslide victory over City Councilor Benjo Bernabe, with 115,851 against 82,551 votes.

Bernabe is the son of incumbent Mayor Florencio Bernabe, who has served as city mayor for three consecutive terms. Olivarez, meanwhile, is the incumbent First District Representative for the city.

When interviewed during election day, Olivarez supporters cited last year’s Silverio Compound Demolition as the Bernabes’s Achilles Heel, while on proclamation day, Bernabes’s supporters at the city hall were accusing Olivarez of cheating.

However, Bernabe’s running mate, his fellow Councilor Rico Golez, won with 118,217 votes against Olivarez’s running mate, Edwin Benzon, with 72, 206 votes.

Olivarez’s brother, Eric, meanwhile, topped the first district congressional race with 50,981 votes, while incumbent Vice mayor Gus Tambunting has leveled up to be the next second-district Representative, with 57, 471 votes.

Celebrities such as Ryan yllana, Roselle Nava and Alma Moreno also made it as city councilors.