SunStar: ‘Clan politics’ rules in Pangasinan polls

Family politics ruled anew in Pangasinan province, with several members of local clans emerging the winners in this year’s midterm elections. Sun Star Pangasinan reported Saturday that in San Manuel town, mayor Salvador Perez was reelected while his son Alain Jerico won as vice mayor. In Bautista, re-electionists Mayor Amado Espino III and his uncle, Vice Mayor Pepe Espino, got new mandates. Amado’s father, second district Rep. Amado Jr., leads in the gubernatorial race. Re-electionist Binalonan town mayor Ramon Guico Jr. and his son Ramon III ran unopposed in the elections, as did Sto. Tomas Mayor Vivien Villar and her nephew, councilor Timoteo Villar III, who ran for vice mayor. Another re-electionist, Urdaneta City Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr., ran unopposed. His son Amadeo IV, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in the city, and niece, Councilor Rosary Garcia Perez, won seats in the Urdaneta City Council. In Balungao, re-electionist Mayor Jose Peralta Jr. won another term while his brother Philippe Peralta was elected vice mayor. Meanwhile, reelectionist Pangasinan first district Representative Arthur Celeste leads retired General Alberto Braganza in the congressional race. Celeste’s brother, Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste, was given fresh mandate. In Anda, Mayor Nestor Pulido and his wife, Pangasinan first district Board Member Alice Pulido, got fresh terms in their respective posts. Labrador town mayor Ernesto Acain succeeded in his reelection bid. His son-in-law George Vinoya will be his vice mayor when they hold office starting July 1. Re-electionist Pangasinan fifth district Rep. Mark Cojuangco and his wife Carmen, who ran for Sison mayor, were unopposed in the elections. Even estranged relatives Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. and his aunt-in-law Asuncion Calimlim were both reelected into two top posts of Mapandan. In Mangatarem, former Pangasinan Rep. Teodoro Cruz and his sister-in-law Cristina Punzal-Cruz won the mayoralty and vice mayoralty race. In Dagupan City, former immigration commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. beat Brian Lim, son of incumbent Mayor Benjamin Lim, in the mayoralty race. Fernandez’s son Alipio Serafin and nephew Michael get Dagupan City Council seats. - GMANews.TV