NEW faces will take the mayoralty seats of several Pampanga towns this coming June.
In Porac town, independent candidates delivered decisive blows to veteran politicians. Independent candidate Jing Capil is the likely victor in the mayoralty race with 24,945 votes, with Dexter David only managing 18,181 votes and former governor Mark Lapid lagging at third place with 9,589 votes, according to unofficial results aggregated from Commssion on Elections (Comelec) data as of 5:20 a.m. Tuesday, May 14, and from 100 percent of Election Returns in the said town.
Meanwhile, former San Simon Mayor Digos Canlas won’t be making a comeback just yet as newcomer JP Punzalan was able to deliver a slim lead against the veteran politician. Punzalan garnered some 15,324 against Digos’ 15,180 votes.
Unopposed mayoralty candidate Esmie Pineda will continue the Pineda political line in Lubao town as mayor. The Pineda popularity in Lubao town is still high as the mayoralty candidate managed to muster some 48,150 votes based on 86.79 percent of Election Returns.
In Sto. Tomas, incumbent Vice Mayor Gloria “Ninang” Ronquillo made history after being elected as the town’s first lady mayor.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) officially proclaimed Ronquillo as the winner in the mayoralty race after getting 11,308 votes against opponent incumbent Mayor Johnny Sambo’s 11,137 votes.
Ronquillo, who was accompanied by husband former Mayor Romeo “Ninong” Ronquillo and their children during the proclamation, expressed gratitude to her fellow Tomasians who supported her during the campaign period.
“Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa aking mga kababayan sa pagtitiwala nila sa akin ng kanilang mga sagradong boto. Asahan niyo po na magtatrabaho ako ng buong-puso sa inyong lahat bilang pasasalamat sa inyo,” she said.
As the first lady mayor, Ronquillo said she will be implementing programs that will benefit Tomasian women including livelihood programs for unemployed women, and providing trainings and starting capitals for stay-at-home moms.
She added that she will also be increasing scholarship grants for indigent but deserving students, as well as the social pension for senior citizens which will be delivered to their respective homes.
Meanwhile, Ronquillo assured her fellow newly-elected officials that she will foster unity as the new leader of their town.
“Sa eleksyon lang naman iyong division dito sa Sto. Tomas pero after this, buo na kami ulit. Hindi rin naman bago sa akin itong mga kasama kong nanalo lalo na itong vice mayor ay inaanak ko rin sa kasal,” she said.
Proclaimed winner for vice-mayoralty race is former Association of Barangay Captains Matias “Bong” Pineda, while newbie candidate Anne Garcia secured the top spot in the race for local council along with Mark Louie Arceo, Anjeli Tamtanco, Engelbert David, Yayadin Quiambao, Danilo Anicete, Angel David and Marvin Pineda.
Meanwhile, incumbent Bacolor Vice Mayor Eduardo “Diman” Datu is stepping up from his current post after being elected as the new local chief executive.
Datu beat outgoing Mayor Jomar Hizon’s brother Derick Hizon and RJ Soto in the mayoralty race after garnering 21,771 votes compared to 14,433 and 591 votes of his two rivals, respectively.
Expressing his gratitude to his constituents, Datu vowed to implement programs that will boost the education, tourism, livelihood, culture and arts and the overall economy of this once-lahar ravaged municipality.
“Bilang anak ng Bacolor, alam ko ng personal ang pangangailangan ng aking bayan at asahan po ng aking mga kababayan ang buhos ng proyekto para po sa ating bayan,” Datu said.
He also enjoined fellow newly elected officials to be united and work hand-in-hand for the development of their town and their people, especially the youth.
Elected as vice mayor is Willy Balingit with 13,181, while councilors are Ron Dungca, Emily Batac, Lucky Labung, Joel Samia, Ariel Sta. Cruz, Ener Lampa, Pogi Caballa and Bong San Pedro.
Over in Candaba, former Mayor Rene Maglanque has officially reclaimed the local chief executive post.
Maglanque, along with re-elected Vice Mayor Michael Sagum and winning councilors, were formally proclaimed by the Comelec around 4 a.m. Tuesday after all election results were transmitted.
Based on the official results from Comelec, Maglanque garnered 28,306 winning votes while incumbent Mayor Danilo Baylon came second with 27,160 and Architect Andy Gulapa with 3,056.
Elected councilors were Thelma Macapagal, Maine Santiago, Carol Foz, Nelson Bautista, Amy Rose Baylon, Erlinda “Donya” Salac, Narciso Maglanque, and Bienvenido Gatus, Jr.
Maglanque expressed gratitude to Candabeños, especially to those who supported him throughout his crusade, for trusting him anew to lead their municipality to further development.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga kababayan ko dito sa Candaba sa pagpili ninyo sa akin na mamuno sa inyo ng tatlong taon at asahan po ninyo na ibibigay ko ang taos-pusong serbisyo, ang totoong serbisyung malugud,” he said.
For his first 100 days, Maglanque said he will prioritize the rehabilitation of the community hospital which he constructed during his term, and prepare necessary documents for his planned construction of a public tertiary school.
He also vowed to revive the five-year development plan he formulated back in 2017 which would include construction of several infrastructure projects, implementation of social programs, especially for the youth, senior citizens, farmers, and marginalized sectors.
“Priority natin iyong matagal ng pangarap na libreng kolehiyo para sa mga kabataang Candabeño. Aayusin ko muna lahat pero in a year’s time, hopefully aandar na siya. At siyempre asahan nila na ibubuhos natin ang maraming proyekto katulad noon,” he said.
Maglanque, meanwhile, urged his fellow newly-elected officials to leave all the differences behind and be united in achieving the common goal of developing their municipality.
“Hinihikayat ko kayo na isantabi na natin ang nakaraan. Isipin natin ang kinabukasan ng ating kababayan at kung paano natin maisusulong ang bayan natin. Hinihikayat ko kayo na samahan niyo ako na tuparin ang aking mga pangarap at ang mga pangarap ninyo,” he said.
In Apalit, the tandem of former Mayor Oscar “Jun” Tetangco, Jr. and Mayor Peter Nucom has secured the top positions in this town after they were officially elected as mayor and vice-mayor, respectively.
Tetangco garnered the highest votes in the mayoralty race with 22,864 followed by Augusto “Gus” Manlapaz with 20,119 and certain Gas Manlapaz with 1,079.
Nucom, meanwhile, secured a landslide win in the vice-mayoralty race with 27,776 winning votes while Nelson Manuel came far second with 10,151 and Doc J Torres with 1,079 votes.
Tetangco and Nucom’s win mirrored their earlier leadership in this town as they have held same positions simultaneously for three consecutive terms back in 2007 to 2016.
Tetangco said their tandem’s re-election signaled the continuous and unhampered development programs they will be lining-up during their terms.
“Sa pagtutulungan po namin ni Mayor Peter at ni Governor Dennis Pineda, asahan po nila na darating po ang aming mga ipinangakong bagong ospital and public college dito sa bayan ng Apalit,” he said.
Nucom, for his part, expressed gratitude to Apaliteños for giving him “overwhelming” votes despite having two opponents.
“Ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakatanggap ako ng ganitong panalo at ramdam ko panalong-panalo po ako sa pagmamahal ng aking mga kababayan,” he said.
Tetangco and Nucom will be joined by newly-elected members of the Sangguniang Bayan namely Elias “Doc” Mendoza, Kenneth Nunag, Kriz Mangsal, Jed Dalusung, Tuks Simon, Andrew Manlapaz, Mavic Mendoza and Pol Nabong.