Malapitan wins reelection

Incumbent Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan won reelection in the May 9, 2016, elections over rivals that included Recom Echiverri (middle inset) who lost despite the backing of the Iglesia ni Cristo, or INC, sect. PHOTOS FROM OSCAR MALAPITAN FACEBOOK ACCOUNT / RECOM ECHIVERRI FACEBOOK ACCOUNT / INQUIRER FILES

CALOOCAN City Mayor Oscar Malapitan won his reelection bid, topping five challengers that included an Iglesia ni Cristo-backed Rep. Recom Echiverri.

After an 11-hour canvassing of votes, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday proclaimed the victory of Malapitan who got 301,867 votes compared to the 172,278 earned by Echiverri, his closest rival.

Independent candidate Boy Asistio, a former mayor like Echiverri, landed third with 8,657 votes.

Also proclaimed winner was Malapitan’s running mate, Maca Asistio, who got 333,971 votes. Echiverri’s running mate, Rodolfo Oliva, got 91,190 votes.

Second district Rep. Edgardo Erice, the Liberal Party spokesperson, won another term with 101,051 votes; while Dale “Along” Malapitan, the mayor’s son, was elected congressman of the first district with 215,639 votes. The younger Malapitan first ran for Congress in 2013 but lost to Echiverri.

Elected councilors were Karina Teh, Christopher Malonzo, Dean Asistio, Carmelo Africa III, Aurora Henson Jr. and Marylou San Buenaventura.  With Jenna Sy