In Negros, Eduardo Cojuangco fails to sway polls
BACOLOD CITY—It is sweet victory for the man who battled the titans and kingmakers in Negros Occidental.
Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr. received a fresh mandate in a landslide victory against Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez, who had the support of business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco and Rep. Alfredo Benitez, one of the richest men in Congress.
But only 14 of 31 winning mayors are allied with Maranon. Three of his allies in Congress also won.
The governor was teary-eyed during his proclamation on Wednesday.
Talk circulated in the province that massive funding from Cojuangco and Benitez was not felt in the grassroots level.
It appeared that Cojuangco is losing his grip on the fourth district composed of the cities of Bago and La Carlota and the towns of Pontevedra, Pulupandan, San Enrique and Valladolid where his son, Charlie, was congressman from 1998 to 2007.
