• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Although there were a few that lost to new challengers during the May 12 elections, the same family names continue to dominate politics in Negros Occidental.
However, according to Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, residents in many local government units have accepted it.
It’s really up to the electorate or voters, to decide what is good for their community, Lacson said yesterday.
Former Mayor Richard Jaojoco reclaimed his seat as chief executive of Toboso, replacing his wife, Madonnah, who served one term as the municipal mayor.
Mayor Melecio Yap was reelected mayor of Escalante City. He had also been a congressman of the Negros Occidental 1st district, and previously held the position of city mayor for nine years.
Julio Ledesma IV is returning as congressman of the Negros Occidental 1st district, a position he occupied in the 1990s.
Marxlen de la Cruz, who was elected as a board member of the Negros Occidental, was replaced by his brother, Nehemiah Joe, as mayor of Don Salvador Benedicto. Their parents, Cynthia and the late Nehemias, also served as mayors of the town.
Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. was reelected to his second term as mayor of Cadiz City, where he has his nephew, John Vincent Escalante, as the vice mayor. Mayor “Bading” Escalante had served as a board member for nine years, and had also been the city mayor.
Negros Occidental 2nd district Rep. Alfredo Marañon III was reelected to a second term. He is the son of the late Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and also a nephew of former Governor Joseph Marañon, both of whom served as mayors of Sagay.
Arthur Christopher Marañon, brother of Rep. Marañon, also won as a representative of the 2nd district to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Councilor Micah Escalante will replace her father, Manuel Escalante III, as mayor of Manapla, while Matthew Louis Malacon won the E.B. Magalona mayoral race to occupy the position to be vacated by his father, Marvin who remains in public office after being elected as the municipal vice mayor.
Atty. Rowena “Weng” Lizares will succeed her husband, Nilo Jesus Antonio Neil, who served the term limit of nine successive years as mayor of Talisay City.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez and his father, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, won the congressional seats for the 3rd district of Negros Occidental and the Bacolod Lone District, respectively.
Outgoing representative Greg Gasataya was elected as mayor of highly urbanized Bacolod City, where he had also served as vice mayor and councilor.
Mayor Miguel Peña was reelected mayor of Pulupandan, a post previously occupied by his father, Magdaleno.
Jose Maria Alonso got another mandate as mayor of Pontevedra, while his brother, Board Member Jose Benito Alonso, won the vice gubernatorial race. The latter’s daughter, Paula Alonso, was elected as a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, representing the province’s 4th district.
Jilson Tubillara was reelected mayor of San Enrique for his third and final term.
Incumbent Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer is returning to a position he previously held as a congressman of the Negros Occidental 4th district, replacing his wife, Juliet Marie Ferrer, who will end her nine year term as the district representative of the Lower House on June 30.
Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan, who is set to end a nine year term as chief executive of La Castellana, will be replaced by her brother, Anejo, who won the mayoralty race. She remains in public office by being elected as the town’s vice mayor.
Mayor Nadie Arceo and his wife, Vice Mayor Mary Grace Arceo, will swap positions after the couple won the top two posts of Hinigaran.
Miguel Angelo Yulo, the son of reelected 5th district Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo, is the new mayor of Isabela after defeating incumbent Vice Mayor Juan Miguel Montilla.
Himamaylan City Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao and Board Member Rita Gatuslao, are siblings who were reelected to their respective positions.
Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia Yulo was reelected as mayor of Moises Padilla, while her husband, Felix Mathias, won the town’s vice mayoral race.
Mayor Benjie Miranda won his second term as mayor of Kabankalan City, partnering with his wife, Divina, who was elected the city’s vice mayor.
Negros Occidental 6th district Representative Mercedes Alvarez was reelected, and her sibling, Mayor Paul Alvarez, reelected as mayor of Ilog, with his son, Paulo, as the vice mayor.
Ralph Alvarez, nephew of Mercedes and Paul, was elected as a board member of Negros Occidental, representing the 6th district.
Mayor John Rey Tabujara and Vice Mayor Ana Liza Tabujara Soriano, are siblings who were both reelected to the top two elected positions of Cauayan town.
Another set of siblings, Gina Montilla Lizares and Oscar Montilla, were reelected as mayor and vice mayor of Sipalay City, respectively.
Lacson said the people voted for them.”Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
On the other hand, Marina Javellana Yao is the incoming mayor of Bago City, after defeating incumbent Vice Mayor Ramon Torres Jr. in the mayoral race. Before he was elected vice mayor of Bago City, Torres had been the city mayor for nine years.
Incumbent Mayor Rex Jalandoon was defeated by Jose Luis “Joelu” Jalandoni for the mayoral race in La Carlota City, where both supported Ferrer during the May 12 elections.*
