INCOMING Mayor Janice Vallega-Degamo, of Pamplona town, Negros Oriental (second from left) and reelected Gov. Roel Degamo, (second from right) are proclaimed by the Negros Oriental provincial board of canvassers. At center is the politicians’ only son, Carlo. PHOTO FROM NEGROS ORIENTAL PIO
If results of elections in the provinces of Negros Oriental and Leyte are to be used as a gauge, having elected officials related to each other are the least of voters’ concerns.
It is common in the two provinces for top elective posts to be occupied by husband and wife, father and daughter, father and son or siblings.
In Negros Oriental, Gov. Roel Degamo and his wife, Janice Vallega-Degamo, a greenhorn, scored landslide victories against the Arnaiz brothers, long-time politicians in the province.
Roel defeated Negros Oriental Rep. George Arnaiz in the gubernatorial race despite 11 malversation cases filed against him by the Ombudsman. Janice unseated George’s brother, Pamplona Mayor Apollo Arnaiz.
In the province’s first district, Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong regained her seat in Congress occupied by her husband’s brother-in-law, outgoing Rep. Manuel Iway.
Her husband, Lawrence, is now vice mayor of La Libertad town. Lawrence’s nephew, Emmanuel Iway, is the new mayor.
Brothers
Outgoing Rep. Pryde Henry Teves, of the third district, won in the mayoral race in Bayawan town while his elder brother, Board Member Arnulfo Teves, will take over his seat in Congress.
Mayor Bentham dela Cruz and Vice Mayor Gino de la Cruz, both of Amlan town, will swap places starting July 1.
It’s a father-and-son tandem in Guihulngan City.
Mayor Guido Reyes and his father, Vice Mayor Ernesto Reyes, retained their seats. Ernesto’s older son, Jake, is board member in the first district while youngest son, Filomeno, is the city’s No. 1 councilor.
Father-and-daughter tandems also won in Jimalalud and Mabinay towns.
Mayor Hazel Billones and her father, Vice Mayor Reynaldo Tuanda Sr. of Jimalalud will switch places.
In Mabinay, Enozario Baldoza was elected vice mayor, and his daughter, Irene, councilor. Elected mayor of the town is Ernie “Jango” Uy while his wife, Joeterry, is the No. 1 councilor.
In Bacong, Jocelyn Ausejo-Alviola is now the new chief executive while her husband, incumbent Mayor Lenin Alviola, gave way to be the presiding officer of the municipal council.
JAVIER Mayor Leonardo Javier will play second fiddle to his son, Michael, who has been elected mayor after serving as vice mayor. The elder Javier has reached his term limit. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Family affair
It’s also a family affair in the town of Vallehermoso.
Mayor Marianne Gustilo and Vice Mayor Oliver Bongoyan are first cousins. Half of the eight elected seats in the town council were won by their relatives. They are Gustilo’s two brothers—Rey Serion and Rusty Serion—cousin Linneo Ollades and uncle Manuel Serion.
Top officials of two neighboring towns in the south are also related. Rodrigo Alanano is vice mayor of Dauin and his nephew, Glenson Alanano, is Zamboanguita mayor.
Prof. David Genotiva, of the University of the Philippines in Tacloban City, Leyte province said the cycle of electing relatives into offices will not stop until Congress passes the Anti-Dynasty Law.
But he added he does not expect the congressmen to pass a law that runs counter to their interests and allow themselves to be “extinct.”
“They will preserve their interests,” he said.
“I don’t foresee an end to this. This will just continue as long as politics, as long as political position, is an industry, a source of wealth,” he added.
In Leyte, Councilor Lemuel Gin Traya, of Abuyog town, took over the post of his father, Octavio, who is on his last term as mayor.
He defeated his own mother, Ofelia, a former mayor who had been estranged from her husband Octavio for more than 10 years.
Mayor Leonardo Javier of Javier town, a multi-millionaire businessman, has ruled his impoverished town for nine years as mayor. Starting July, his son Michael, a political neophyte, will take over his post.
Leonardo, president of the mayors’ league in Leyte, is the incoming vice mayor.
It is also a father-and-son tandem in Bato town, Leyte.
Councilor Bryan Nile Gertos will take the post of his father, Nathanael, an outgoing mayor who has been elected vice mayor.
It is a father-daughter team in Jaro, too.
Councilor Zharina Celebre of Jaro was elected mayor while her father, Rolando, a third-term mayor, won vice mayor.
In Capoocan town, outgoing Mayor Federico Carolino, Sr. ceded his post to his daughter, Fe Claire, a neophyte.
It will be sibling acts for Macarthur town where Mayor Rene Leria won a fresh mandate while his sister, Alice, won vice mayor.
OUTGOING mayor of Barugo town, Alden Avestruz, is handing over power to his wife, Ma. Rosario, after serving three terms, the limit set by the Constitution for local elected officials. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Relatives, relatives
In Leyte town, former mayor Noli Ysidoro will return to his old post that he lost in 2013 while his brother, Armando, also a former mayor, will be his vice mayor.
Outgoing Mayor Alden Avestruz of Barugo town will hand over the reign of the town to his wife, Ma. Rosario, the post he held for nine years.
In Burauen, it is the turn of the husband of outgoing Mayor Fe Renomeron to take over as mayor after nine years.
Juanito Renomeron used to be mayor of Burauen for three terms before his wife, Fe, succeeded him.
In Kananga, outgoing Mayor Elmer Codilla fielded his wife, Rowena, as his successor and won the post he held for nine years.
In Dulag, outgoing Mayor Manuel Sia-Que will be succeeded by daughter Mildred.