Pinedas still rule Pampanga

PAMPANGA, Philippines – Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda and his mother, Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, will service another term in office as they won in their respective reelection bids.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed them as winners on Tuesday evening, May 10.

Delta got 668,757 votes, defeating his sole rival former Candaba mayor Danilo Baylon who got 453,408 votes.

The vice governor and her daughter, reelectionist Lubao Mayor Esmie Pineda, both ran unopposed.

Reelectionist 2nd District Provincial Board Member Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, another daughter the vice governor, topped the race with 175, 951 votes. Completeing the three seats in the district are Pineda allies Fritizie David-Dizon with 131,992 votes and Eusoof Sajid, with 125, 535.

The Pinedas supported the tandem of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. They have been holding the province’s top executive posts since 2010.

The Pineda’s main patron, former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who forecast the Uniteam’s landslide win, also ran unopposed for the seat occupied by her son, Pampanga 2nd District Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo.

Of Pampanga’s congressional candidates, only the 4th District’s Anna York Bondoc had an opponent. She won with 258,625. votes against Regino Mallari who only secured 10,095 votes.

Bondoc, who previously served three terms in Congress, will replace her brother, Deputy Speaker Juan Pablo Bondoc who is on his third term.

Pampanga 1st District Representative Carmelo Lazatin II and Pampanga 3rd District Representative Dong Gonzales were unopposed. – Rappler.com

Joann Manabat is a Luzon-based journalist and an awardee of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship.