It’s still a Pinol-Sacdalan team-up in the next three years in North Cotabato but they’re trading positions: Jesus Sacdalan will be governor and Emmanuel Pinol will be his vice governor .
In the other provinces, “graduating” three-term legislators are moving over to the chief executive’s offices as mayors or governors while “graduating” chief executives are moving over to the legislature.
North Cotabato first district Rep. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza was reelected to a third term. Her father, Carmen mayor Roger Talino, the three-term mayor of Carmen town, lost in the gubernatorial race but mother Noemi won as mayor of Carmen.
Pinol’s brother, Bernardo, Jr., won in the second congressional district against Evaresto Gana, former congressman Gregorio Andolana and Zaida Jubilan-Rensulat, who was substitute candidate following the death of her sister Solema Jubilan.
The Plazas still dominate Agusan del Sur and the Amantes, Agusan del Norte.
In Agusan del Norte, Erlpe John Amante won a second term as governor while his father, Edelmiro, is returning to Congress.
In Agusan del Sur, Rodolfo Plaza won a third term as representative while Maria Valentina Plaza Cornelio won as governor.
In Bukidnon, Jose Ma. Zubiri was elected to a third term as governor, his son Jose Ma. III was elected to the seat brother Rep. and now senatorial bet Juan Miguel is vacating in the third congressional district. Zubiri’s candidate in the first district, Candido Pancrudo, won against Malou Acosta, (sister of defeated gubernatorial bet Nereus, the three-term representative) and the controversial former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano. Teofisto Guingona’s son, Teofisto II, won a second term as representative of the second district while his mother, Ruthie de Lara-Guingona, won a second term as mayor of Gingoog City.
In Davao Oriental, three-term Rep. Corazon Malanyaon is the new governor with Rep. Joel Mayo Almario as vice governor. Almario’s mother, Thelma, is representative of the second district while Nelson Dayanghirang won as first district representative.
In Davao del Norte, Rodolfo del Rosario is back as governor. Davao del Sur is still a toss-up between the Bautista and Cagas families although three-term Rep. Douglas Cagas’ son, Marc has won the seat he is vacating in the first district.
In Compostela Valley, the Caballeros took a beating with Governor Jose Caballero losing his bid for the 2nd district seat in Congress to Rommel Amatong, and his daughter Kristine Mae losing her bid for governor to provincial board member Arturo Uy. Uy’s brother is also mayor of neighboring Tagum City. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora earned his third term in the 1st dstrict.
In Lanao del Norte, the father and son team of Abdullah and Khalid Dimaporo emerged as winners as 2nd district Rep. and governor, respectively, but Imelda Dimaporo, wife and mother was losing in the 1st district congressional race against Vicente “Varf” Belmonte and Angelique Dawn “Nikki” Badelles, daughter of three-term Rep. Mariano Badelles.
In Maguindanao, Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. was elected to a third term, while his son Datu Sajid Islam Uy Ampatuan, won as vice governor. Two other sons won their mayoralty bids: Datu Anwar Uy Ampatuan as mayor of Shariff Aguak and Datu Andal Ampatuan, Jr.,
In Misamis Occidental and Oriental, Governors Leo Loreto Ocampos and Oscar Moreno were also reelected.
In Sarangani and South Cotabato, Miguel Rene Dominguez and Daisy Avance-Fuentes earned their second and third terms, respectively.
Fuentes won a third term along with Reps. Darlene Antonino-Custodio (1st district) and Arthur Pingoy (2nd district).
In Sultan Kudarat, three-term governor Pax Mangudadatu has been proclaimed winner in the 1st congressional district. Sultan Kudarat used to have only one district. It now has two.
Vicente Pimentel was reelected governor of Surigao del Sur. Philip Pichay won the seat in the first district that brother Prospero, a senatorial candidate, is vacating. Former Bislig City mayor Florencio Garay won as representative of the second district.
In Zamboanga Sibugay, Governor George Hofer won a third term while daughter Dulce Ann won in the congressional race.
Zamboanga del Sur is still Cerilles country with husband Antonio winning reelection in Congress, wife Aurora reelected as governor and son Ace, the new mayor of Dumalinao town.
In the cities, mayors Democrito Plaza II of Butuan, Rodrigo Duterte of Davao, Pedro Acharon of General Santos, Ruthie Guingona (wife of Arroyo critic Teofisto Guingona who ran under Lakas-CMD), Celso Lobregat (who also ran under Lakas-CMD) and Alfonso Casurra of Surigao, Fernando Miguel of Koronadal, Florencio Flores of Malaybalay, Muslimin Sema of Cotabato were reelected.
Duterte’s daughter, Sara, won as vice mayor of Davao City. (Carolyn O. Arguillas, Williamor A. Magbanua, Allen V. Estabillo, Violeta M. Gloria and Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)