By JEN BAYLON
The midterm elections in Negros Occidental on Monday, May 12, have concluded with a mix of closely contested races and unopposed victories, according to the partial and unofficial vote tallies released by the Commission on Elections as of yesterday.
In Binalbagan town, Manuel Aranda, running as an independent candidate, won the mayoralty with 18,843 votes, narrowly defeating Bebot Mirasol of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), who garnered 16,890 votes. The vice mayoral race was won by Mary Ann Mirasol of Unega, who received 17,043 votes, beating Bebot Baja, an independent candidate, who obtained 15,726 votes.
Bago City elected Mayette Javellana (PFP) as mayor with 48,312 votes, overcoming Ramon Torres of the National Unity Party (NUP), who received 36,312 votes. Andrew Torres (NUP) won the vice mayoralty with 48,319 votes, defeating Pedic Matti (PFP), who had 32,486 votes.
In Calatrava town, Marilyn Era of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) decisively won the mayoral race with 31,899 votes against Dick Dedicatoria (PDP-Laban), who received 6,082 votes. Nonoy Dinapo (NPC) ran unopposed for vice mayor, securing 30,073 votes.
Candoni town’s mayoralty was won by Ray Ruiz (PFP) with 6,871 votes, narrowly beating Doc Litoy Bernardez (NPC), who had 5,862 votes. Odi Javellana (Lakas) won the vice mayoral position with 7,487 votes against Celot Borromeo (NPC), who received 4,797 votes.
In Cauayan town, John Rey Tabujara (NPC) triumphed in the mayoral race with 32,353 votes, defeating Jurry Nabaja (PFP), who had 8,487 votes. His running mate, Jing Tabujara-Soriano (PFP), won the vice mayoralty with 27,101 votes over independent candidate Vico Perez, who garnered 11,369 votes.
In Escalante City, Melecio Yap (NPC) won the mayoral race with 46,164 votes against independent candidate Jemo Escares, who received 712 votes. Nono Prietos (NPC) secured the vice mayoralty with 40,774 votes, defeating Mae Plaza, an independent candidate, who had 1,199 votes.
Raymund Tongson (Unega) won the mayoralty in Himamaylan City with 42,015 votes, defeating Vicente Genova, an independent candidate, who received 14,715 votes. Justin Silos Gatuslao (Unega) won the vice mayoral position with 30,073 votes over Raymundo Tongson III (PFP), who garnered 26,825 votes.
In Hinigaran town, Mary Grace Arceo (NPC) won the mayoral race with 27,138 votes against Teresita Gabrido (PFP), who had 19,251 votes. Nadie Arceo (NPC) also won the vice mayoralty with 33,673 votes, defeating Ernesto Adrian Aguilar (NUP), who received 10,241 votes.
Nonoy dela Cruz, Jr. (Unega) won the mayoralty in Don Salvador Benedicto town with 13,689 votes, defeating independent candidate Jig Esperancilla, who received 1,586 votes. Jugin Bandolon (NPC) ran unopposed for vice mayor, securing 14,023 votes.
Joedith Gallego (PFP) was elected mayor of Silay City with 45,913 votes, defeating Mark Golez (Lakas), who obtained 30,651 votes. Independent candidate Tom Ledesma won the vice mayoralty with 48,039 votes over Ryan Gamboa (Lakas), who had 25,593 votes.
In E.B. Magalona town, Matthew Louis Malacon (PFP) won the mayoral race with 24,514 votes against independent candidate Risa Barello, who received 8,261 votes. Marvin Malacon (PFP) also won the vice mayoral position with 26,663 votes, defeating Eddie Paez, an independent candidate, who garnered 4,479 votes.
Daph Reliquias (PFP) won the mayoralty in Hinoba-an town with 21,757 votes, beating independent candidate Lilife Salve, who had 5,648 votes. Toy Bilbao (PFP) won the vice mayoral seat with 14,872 votes over Toto Earl Magbanua (PDP-Laban), who received 9,009 votes.
In Isabela town, Miguel Yulo (Lakas) won the mayoral race with 24,164 votes against Juan Mig Montilla (NPC), who received 12,067 votes. Renato Malabor, Jr. (Lakas) won the vice mayoral position with 21,288 votes, defeating Irene Montilla (NPC), who garnered 13,821 votes.
Añejo Nicor (Lakas) won the mayoralty in La Castellana town with 18,766 votes, narrowly beating Ryan Canoy (PFP), who had 16,552 votes. Mhai-Mhai Nicor (Unega) won the vice mayoral position with 18,904 votes against Nene Vera (PFP), who received 15,442 votes.
Mika Escalante (Lakas) won the mayoral race in Manapla town with 25,018 votes, defeating independent candidate Christine Miñada, who garnered 784 votes. Edgar Pagayonan (Lakas) won the vice mayoral position with 17,656 votes over Sonson Jarder, an independent candidate, who received 8,640 votes.
Ella Garcia (NUP) won the mayoralty in Moises Padilla town with 15,176 votes, beating Ian Villaflor (PFP), who had 7,517 votes. Pimpoy Yulo (Lakas) won the vice mayoral race with 12,722 votes against Beauty Nazareno, an independent candidate, who received 9,883 votes.
Gerry Rojas (NPC) won the mayoral race in Murcia town with 32,957 votes, defeating independent candidate Ruel Villarosa, who had 8,889 votes. Johnny Reosura (Lakas) won the vice mayoral position with 33,737 votes over Lenie Garcia, an independent candidate, who received 4,564 votes.
Miguel Peña (NPC) won the mayoralty in Pulupandan town with 14,751 votes, defeating independent candidate Bingbing Araneta, who received 430 votes. Gerany Suatengco (PFP) ran unopposed for vice mayor with 12,975 votes.
Jilson Tubillara (NUP) won the mayoral race in San Enrique town with 9,095 votes, narrowly beating Leo Delfinado (NPC), who had 7,966 votes. Dingdong Severino (NUP) won the vice mayoral position with 8,488 votes against Carlo Magno (NPC), who received 8,045 votes.
Ricardo Presbitero, Jr. (NUP) won the mayoral race in Valladolid town with 11,865 votes, defeating Roel Yogore (NPC), who received 9,801 votes. Shirley Nacion (NUP) won the vice mayoral position with 12,853 votes against Bebot Miravalles (PFP), who garnered 8,620 votes.
In Kabankalan City, Benjie Miranda (PFP) won the mayoralty with 42,657 votes, beating Genaro Lim-ao Alvarez, an independent candidate, who received 22,583 votes, and Isidro Elpidio Zayco (NPC), who had 22,518 votes. Miranda’s running mate, Divine Miranda (PFP), won the vice mayoral race with 37,146 votes against Migz Zayco (Lakas), who garnered 28,969 votes.
Joelu Jalandoni, an independent candidate, won the mayoral race in La Carlota City with 20,316 votes, defeating Rex Jalando-on (NUP), who received 17,937 votes. Jun-Jun Baga (NUP) won the vice mayoral position with 30,156 votes over Melchor Villanueva, an independent candidate, who had 4,241 votes.
Maria Gina Lizares (NPC) won the mayoral race in Sipalay City with 24,769 votes, beating Bebsie Villegas, an independent candidate, who received 6,484 votes. Oscar Montilla, Jr. (NPC) ran unopposed for vice mayor, securing 29,704 votes.
In Talisay City, Weng Lizares (Lakas) won the mayoralty with 31,706 votes against Samuel Siote of the Liberal Party (LP), who had 26,907 votes. Gab Villacin (LP) won the vice mayoral position with 32,672 votes, defeating Nic Jalandoni (PFP), who garnered 25,116 votes.
Unopposed
Cadiz City saw unopposed victories with Salvador Escalante (Lakas) securing the mayoralty with 58,018 votes, and Vincent Escalante (NUP) winning the vice mayoral seat with 54,544 votes.
San Carlos City recorded unchallenged victories with Rene Gustilo and Criston Carmona, both of NPC, winning the mayor and vice mayoral positions, respectively, with 59,771 and 55,335 votes.
Victorias City also had unopposed candidates, with Junb Bantug (NPC) winning the mayoralty with 36,278 votes. Derek Palanca (NPC) won the vice mayoral position with 32,157 votes, beating independent candidate Rene Imperial, who garnered 8,857 votes.
In Sagay City, Bebo Cueva (NUP) ran unopposed for mayor, obtaining 51,281 votes. Narwin Javelosa (NUP) won the vice mayoral race with 48,578 votes against independent candidate Jun Suico, who received 3,956 votes.
John Paul Alvarez (NPC) ran unopposed for mayor in Ilog town, securing 21,845 votes, while John Paulo Alvarez (NPC) also ran unopposed for vice mayor with 21,000 votes.
Joemar Alonso (NUP) ran unopposed for mayor in Pontevedra town, receiving 20,399 votes. Daybing Gilbor-Matti (NUP) won the vice mayoral race with 18,213 votes against Rodolfo Catague (PFP), who garnered 8,764 votes.
Richard Jaojoco (Lakas) ran unopposed for mayor in Toboso town, securing 20,353 votes, while Maling de la Cruz (Lakas) also ran unopposed for vice mayor with 19,444 votes./JB, WDJ