Gullas loses bid for Talisay City mayor

Outgoing Rep. Eduardo Gullas PHOTO FROM CONGRESS.GOV.PH

CEBU CITY—A veteran politician who served Cebu in various positions dating back to the Marcos era suffered his first electoral defeat in his decades-old political career.

Outgoing Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district (Nacionalista/Alayon party) lost the mayoral race in Talisay City to  Johnny delos Reyes (Liberal Party).

Delos Reyes, who owns a company that manufactures medicine for mouth ulcers, was scheduled to be proclaimed winner of the Talisay City mayoral race along with his running mate, Romeo Villarante, at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

In the official canvass, Delos Reyes won by a slim margin. Delos Reyes got 39,453 while Gullas had 38,717 votes.

In the vice mayoral race, Villarante got  27,974 votes, while Gullas’ running mate, Vice Mayor Alan Bucao, received 27,232 votes. Bucao conceded defeat to Villarante, saying their defeat, particularly Gullas’, was shocking.

He expressed doubt about the PCOS machines but then conceded that the city government’s decision to transfer the vendors at the old public market in Barangay Tabunok to Barangay Langtad was a big factor.

Market vendors strongly opposed the transfer of the public market, saying it had affected their livelihood since the new location was not accessible and was near a river.