Voting members of one family into office continues to this day in Negros Oriental.
The recent elections showed that concentrating political power in the hands of people related to each other is a non-issue for most voters.
In Negros Oriental, Gov. Roel Degamo got a fresh overwhelming mandate, while his wife, political newbie Janice Vallega-Degamo, also won the mayoralty race in the town of Pamplona.
The Degamo couple beat the Arnaiz brothers even in their bailiwick: Governor Degamo won over Cong. George Arnaiz in the gubernatorial race despite the Governor’s 11 malversation cases filed against him by the Ombudsman; the Governor’s wife also beat incumbent mayor Apollo Arnaiz.
In the 1st District in the north, Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong regained her seat as congressman occupied by Cong. Manuel Iway, her husband’s in-law. Jocelyn’s husband Mayor Lawrence Limkaichong is the new vice mayor of the town of La Libertad, whose nephew, Emmanuel “MM” Iway, is the new mayor.
Cong. Pryde Henry Teves also won the mayorship in the city of Bayawan, while his older brother Board Member Arnulfo Teves is the new congressman for the 3rd District in the south.
In the town of Amlan, brothers Gino and Bentham dela Cruz swapped places as mayor and vice mayor, respectively.
In Guihulngan City, son-father tandem of Guido and Ernesto Reyes retained their seats as mayor and vice mayor, respectively. Ernesto’s older son Jake Reyes is the newly-elected Board Member in the 1st District, while his youngest son Filomeno “Mikoy” Reyes is the #1 councilor of Guihulngan.
Over at Jimalalud, it’s a father-daughter tandem between Reynaldo Tuanda Sr. as mayor, and his daughter Hazel Billones as vice mayor.
Another father-daughter team won in the town of Mabinay: Enozario “Piktoy” Baldoza as vice mayor, and Irene Baldoza as his #2 councilor.
In two towns, decisions may even be hatched in the comfort of their bedrooms.
In Bacong town, Jocelyn Ausejo-Alviola is the new chief executive, while her husband Mayor Lenin Alviola gave way to be the presiding officer.
In the town of Mabinay, Mayor Ernie «Jango» Uy”ºs wife, Joeterry Abada-Uy, won the #1 councilor.
It’s all in the family in the town of Vallehermoso: Mayor Marianne Gustilo and Vice Mayor Oliver Bongoyan are first cousins in their maternal side. Half of the eight elected seats in the town council were won by more of their relatives: Mayor Gustilo”ºs two brothers Rey Serion and Rusty Serion, another cousin Linneo Ollades, and their uncle Manuel Serion.
The heads of two neighboring towns in the south are also related: Rodrigo Alanano is Dauin vice mayor, and Glenson Alanano is Zamboanguita mayor.
Clearly, it may take more time before political dynasties, as we know the term today, will come to and end. (Irma Faith Pal)
