The Cordillera region, rooted in indigenous forms of governance, showed in this election that it continues to largely reject political dynasties.
This is the case in four of its six provinces — Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province.
In the area known as the interior Cordillera, there are no major political dynasties like those found in other parts of the Philippines.
In Baguio City in Benguet, voters rejected the mayoral bid of Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, who is on his third term in the House of Representatives, and the congressional bid of his wife Soledad.
Seeing a husband and wife run for office simultaneously was a first for Baguio City voters.
Reelectionist Mayor Benjamin Magalong won a final term with 55,497 votes against Rep. Go’s 42,771 votes in a closely watched race.
Mauricio Domogan won the congressional race against Soledad.
But Benguet Rep. Eric Go Yap won another term in the House of Representatives. Yap’s brother, Edvic Yap, is a nominee of ACT-CIS party-list group, which is also poised to win seats in Congress.
Outside of interior Cordillera, political dynasties persist in Abra and Apayao, the provinces neighboring Ilocos Region, where “mega” dynasties thrive.
In Abra, the Bersamin political clan in Abra province in northern Luzon is back in power.
The brother of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin was elected Abra governor in a landslide victory that marked the clan’s political comeback after a nine-year absence.
Former governor Eustaquio “Takit” Bersamin defeated Bangued Vice Mayor Kiko Bernos in the gubernatorial race, garnering 133,176 votes against Bernos’ 34,222 votes.
Anne Bersamin, niece of Eustaquio, won as vice governor over Vice Gov. Joy Bernos, securing 130,127 votes against Bernos’ 35,431 votes. Anne is the daughter of Rep. Luis Bersamin who was slain in 2006.
The Bersamin dynasty had been dormant since 2016 when it last held power.
A member of the Bernos dynasty – La Paz Mayor JB Bernos – won the seat in the lone congressional district against Bangued Mayor Mila Valera.
JB’s daughter Danielle Bernos replaced him as mayor of La Paz town without any challenger. JB’s mother Esther Bernos was also elected mayor of Danglas town unopposed.
The national police had deployed additional troops to Abra following a series of shootings in the province, an election hotspot, in the run-up to the vote.
Meanwhile, in the province of Apayao, members of the Bulut clan kept their hold on power.
Rep. Elias Bulut Jr. reclaimed the governorship unopposed. He had served as mayor of Calanasan town before getting elected as a congressional representative and governor.
His sister Eleonor Bulut-Begtang also won the congressional seat without any challenger, and so did his daughter Board Member Kyle Mariah Chelsea Bulut as vice governor and brother Shamir Bulut as Calanasan mayor. — with reports from Northern Dispatch
