Cavite alliance of clans falls apart in Bacoor

SAN PEDRO CITY—The alliance between two of the most powerful political clans in Cavite province, which has the third largest voting population in the country, is dissipating in the city of Bacoor.

Members of the Remulla and Revilla clans, though allies in the provincial level, are clashing in Bacoor, which has 260,156 voters.

Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) is running against Rolando Remulla of the National Unity Party in a three-way fight for mayor. The other candidate is Edwin Malvar of the Liberal Party.

Revilla, who represents the second district of Cavite, is the wife of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who has been detained for plunder charges since 2014. She was elected representative in 2010, but is running for mayor in this year’s elections because her brother-in-law, Bacoor City Mayor Strike Revilla, who is on his third and final term, is running for representative.

Remulla is a relative of incumbent Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr.

In 2013, the Remullas’ local party, Partido Magdalo, allied with the Revillas. Actor Ramon Jolo Revilla III, son of Senator Revilla, ran and won as Jonvic’s vice governor.

Jonvic left the Nacionalista Party to become the spokesperson of Vice President Jejomar Binay. He filed his candidacy for governor under Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance. But in December, Jonvic withdrew his candidacy and was replaced by his older brother and former Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.  Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon