New faces advance old power clans in San Juan, Pasig, Mandaluyong

Janella Estrada and Guia Gomez Photo by Jovic Yee

POLITICAL families who have long governed in the cities of San Juan, Pasig and Mandaluyong not only survived another election but also put new members of the clan on the frontline.

In San Juan, Mayor Guia Gomez secured a third and final term with 28,828 votes, beating by just over a thousand votes Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, her erstwhile ally who got 27,604.

Her running-mate and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s daughter, Councilor Janella Estrada, got 29,939 votes to trump her nearest rival in the vice mayoral race, Councilor Totoy Bernardo, who earned 20,505 votes.

Janella’s win sets the stage for a possible mayoral run in 2019, when Gomez steps down. At her miting de avance on Saturday, Gomez, a partner of former President and now reelected Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, already spoke of Janella as her successor.

With her slim margin of 1,224 votes, Gomez said she expected Zamora to file a protest but that she would still extend the hand of reconciliation. “This election divided San Juan. Now we will try our best to heal and unite,” Gomez told reporters on Monday night.

Francis’ father, Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, won in his reelection bid for the city’s lone House seat, defeating Councilor Jana Ejercito for the second time.

In a statement, the younger Zamora considered his defeat a “bad time” for the city. “[O]ur beloved city of San Juan was denied its chance to rid itself of corruption and bad governance through massive and simultaneous vote-buying and unlawful use of government funds and resources.”

The vice mayor said he would soon file a case against the Ejercito-Estradas. “I will continue to fight for the truth so that the real voice of the people of San Juan will be heard and counted,” he said.

Ubiquitous Eusebios

In Pasig, mayor-elect Bobby Eusebio won another term unopposed. And for the first time since his family took over the local government in 1992, starting with father Vicente Eusebio, a member will also hold the city’s lone House seat.

Bobby’s brother, Councilor Ricky Eusebio, got 145,677 votes to become the Pasig representative, staving off challengers like Councilor Ian Sia (87,711) and Mons Romulo (70,392). The last is the sister of outgoing representative and now senatorial candidate Roman Romulo.

Since 1992, the Eusebios have passed on the mayoralty post from patriarch Vicente, matriarch Soledad, Bobby and then his wife, incumbent Mayor Maribel Eusebio. Maribel herself comes from a political dynasty, the Andayas of Camarines Sur province.

In an earlier interview, Bobby said “it’s not about the length of service but the substance” of every administration that should matter. In the long years they had been at the helm of City Hall, the Eusebios were “able to show to the people the importance of unity.”

Abalos wife next

CARMELITA Abalos ALEXIS CORPUS

In Mandaluyong City, mayor-elect Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos, wife of the incumbent mayor Benhur, scored a landslide victory against her closest opponent, businessman Georgie Antonio. Abalos received 118,077, while Antonio got only 24,680 votes.

Menchie’s win ensured the continuation of the Abalos’s dominance in the city, which started with father-in-law Benjamin Abalos being appointed officer-in-charge of Mandaluyong after the 1986 People Power Revolution.

The mayoralty post remained with the family with the election of Benhur in 1998 and 2007. He traded traded positions with an ally, Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, in 2004.

Benhur and Menchie’s daughter, incumbent Councilor Charisse Abalos, also got reelected, and observers see her win as a stepping stone for a possible mayoral run in 2019.