MANILA, Philippines – Representative Rolando Andaya Jr failed in his bid to unseat as governor of Camarines Sur the son of his archrival.

Miguel Villafuerte, who ran under the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, edged out Andaya of the Nationalist People’s Coalition by more than 5,400 votes. 

The returning governor, who was officially proclaimed on May 15, got 413,592 votes against Andaya’s 408,147. 

Andaya was also the former the budget chief during the Arroyo administration. 

The tight gubernatorial battle was the latest twist in the running fued between Governor Villafuerte’s father, Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr, and Andaya, who is the incumbent representative of the province’s 1st District.

Previously, Andaya had escaped what police “suspected to be an assassination attempt” against him just after he filed his candidacy for governor in October 2018. 

In September 2018, Andaya had a shouting match with the elder Villafuerte, together with former Davao City 1st District representative and now Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, over the national government’s proposed P3.757-trillion budget for 2019. 

As former House majority leader, Andaya had sounded the alarm against alleged anomalies in the 2019 budget, sparking the months-long deadlock with the Senate that was only resolved when President Rodrigo Duterte finally signed the national budget on April 15, 2019. 

In January of this year, LRay Villafuerte was even rumored to be plotting the removal of Andaya as House majority leader. While LRay Villafuerte denied his involvement in the alleged coup plot, he said Andaya should just resign because ousting him would be a waste of time for legislators.

Days later, Andaya stepped down as majority leader and yielded the post to Capiz 2nd District Representative Fredenil Castro. (READ: Term-sharing or graceful exit for Andaya as House majority leader?) 

Andaya was then named the chairman of the House committee on appropriations, which is in charge of scrutinizing the national budget. – Rappler.com